This presentation discusses choosing the most appropriate word to fit a given context. It provides examples of clues that can help determine the meaning of unfamiliar words in a sentence, such as definitions provided in parentheses or examples given through phrases like "for example." The presentation consists of sample test items where the reader must select the word that best fits the context from multiple choices. It emphasizes using context clues and one's intuition to discern meanings, as word definitions may not always be available.

1. This presentation is
brought to you by
Grammar Bytes!,
©2024 by Robin L.
Simmons.

2. Appropriate Words or
Expressions in Context
Astonished?
Astounded?
Bewildered?
Confounded?
Dazed?
Dazzled?
What’s the
right word?

3. This presentation will
help you distinguish
between
appropriate and
inappropriate
words or expressions
for the given
context.

4. On an objective test, an
item evaluating the skill
might look like this ...

5. Sample Item
When Lawrence stuck French fries up his nose,
we shouted, “Yuck!” We were __________ by his
behavior.
A. unfazed
B. dazzled
C. repulsed
When Lawrence stuck French fries up his nose,
we shouted, “Yuck!” We were __________ by his
behavior.
A. unfazed
B. dazzled
C. repulsed
Is unfazed,
dazzled, or
repulsed the best
word to fill the
blank?
Repulsed, which
means disgusted
or sickened, is
the right choice.

6. What if I don’t
know any of
words that are
options?
Don’t panic!
Try to
determine the
right word by
looking for
clues about
meaning!

7. Clue 1: Look for a definition.
Sharilyn suffers from cynophobia, or the fear of
dogs, so she won’t be interested in adopting a
puppy.
Cynophobia!
That’s such a
big word! How
am I supposed to
know what it
means?
Look at the
sentence! The
author has
defined it for
you! It means the
fear of dogs.
Look for
commas,
parentheses,
or dashes that
encapsulate
(or set off) the
definition.
Sharilyn suffers from cynophobia, or the fear of
dogs, so she won’t be interested in adopting a
puppy.

8. Clue 2: Look for examples.
My dog Jack is obdurate; for example, he won’t get
off the couch when I ask or come when he’s called.
Obdurate!
That’s another
big word! I
don’t know what
it means!
Look at the
sentence! The
author gives
examples! You
can conclude
that Jack is
stubborn, a
synonym for
obdurate.
Look for phrases
like to
illustrate, for
instance, or
such as that
provide
examples that
define the word
you don’t know.
My dog Jack is obdurate; for example, he won’t
get off the couch when I ask or come when he’s
called.

9. Clue 3: Look for contrast.
Jill was sick with the flu, so when we explained the
salubrious properties of chocolate-broccoli muffins,
she ate one.
Salubrious!
I’ve never
heard of it! How
am I supposed
to know if it’s the
right word or
not?
Look at the
sentence! If she’s
sick, she wants
to get well, so
salubrious
must mean
health-giving!
Look for an
antonym—a
word that means
the opposite—
to help figure out
the meaning of
the word you
don’t know.
Jill was sick with the flu, so when we explained the
salubrious properties of chocolate-broccoli muffins,
she ate one.

10. Clue 4: Infer the meaning.
Everyone calls that boy Sparky. Only his mother
refuses to use the sobriquet, shouting, “Cornelius!”
when dinner is ready.
Sobriquet!
Who uses that
word! I don’t
know what it
means!
Guess, or
infer, the
meaning!
Mothers like to
call their children
by their real
names.
Sparky must
be a
nickname,
which is what a
sobriquet is!
Everyone calls that boy Sparky. Only his mother
refuses to use the sobriquet, shouting, “Cornelius!”
when dinner is ready.

11. At many objective exams, you
cannot use a dictionar y!
X

12. When in doubt, rely on
“gut” feelings.
Your eyes have seen in print—and your
brain has registered—all of the possible
words that you will encounter for this skill. If
you don’t know the meaning of any of the
words, go with the one that feels right.
Hey, I’ve seen
that word
before!

13. Quick Test
Directions: In the items that follow, choose
the most effective word or phrase within the
context suggested by the sentence(s).
Your
turn!
Let’s see
what you
can do!

14. Item 1
After an exhausting all-nighter to finish Professor
Clark’s research paper, we found his dull lecture
the next morning __________.
A. uplifting
B. excruciating
C. inspiring
After an exhausting all-nighter to finish Professor
Clark’s research paper, we found his dull lecture
the next morning __________.
A. uplifting
B. excruciating
C. inspiring

15. Item 2
After Betsy’s last purchase of a lemon—and the
dealership’s unwillingness to repair problems that
she thought the warranty covered—Betsy
__________ the contract for her new car before
she signed it.
A. scrutinized
B. skimmed
C. glanced at
After Betsy’s last purchase of a lemon—and the
dealership’s unwillingness to repair problems that
she thought the warranty covered—Betsy
__________ the contract for her new car before
she signed it.
A. scrutinized
B. skimmed
C. glanced at

16. Item 3
Walter winced as he tasted the sauce, shook his
head, and sighed. His __________ for Loretta’s
cooking was obvious.
A. horror
B. excitement
C. disdain
Walter winced as he tasted the sauce, shook his
head, and sighed. His __________ for Loretta’s
cooking was obvious.
A. horror
B. excitement
C. disdain

17. Item 4
The students wished Professor Davis gave
__________ directions for essays. Instead, the
assignment sheets are pages long and chocked
full of requirements.
A. complicated
B. wide
C. succinct
The students wished Professor Davis gave
__________ directions for essays. Instead, the
assignment sheets are pages long and chocked
full of requirements.
A. complicated
B. wide
C. succinct

18. Item 5
Sara was filled with __________, for she had
emailed Professor Carson to explain that she was
too ill to attend class but then ran into him at the
Student Center, a tennis racquet in her hand.
A. trepidation
B. mirth
C. brevity
Sara was filled with __________, for she had
emailed Professor Carson to explain that she was
too ill to attend class but then ran into him at the
Student Center, a tennis racquet in her hand.
A. trepidation
B. mirth
C. brevity

19. Item 6
Simon had to __________ his cell phone after it
rang for the third time in class.
A. relinquish
B. amputate
C. postpone
Simon had to __________ his cell phone after it
rang for the third time in class.
A. relinquish
B. amputate
C. postpone

20. Item 7
Roger’s car holds four people comfortably, but he
stuffed nine classmates into the little vehicle.
Larissa had difficulty __________ herself from the
backseat when they arrived at her house.
A. modifying
B. hovering
C. extricating
Roger’s car holds four people comfortably, but he
stuffed nine classmates into the little vehicle.
Larissa had difficulty __________ herself from the
backseat when they arrived at her house.
A. modifying
B. hovering
C. extricating

21. Item 8
Winston read his essay with a ruler, scrutinizing
each line for errors. When he finished, he read it
again just as carefully. We found his behavior
__________, but teachers loved his control of
grammar.
A. punitive
B. redundant
C. lackadaisical
Winston read his essay with a ruler, scrutinizing
each line for errors. When he finished, he read it
again just as carefully. We found his behavior
__________, but teachers loved his control of
grammar.
A. punitive
B. redundant
C. lackadaisical

22. Item 9
Larry dyed his hair blue and green and painted his
face and torso in the same school colors. In
addition, he wore flippers on his feet and hands.
When his girlfriend Maria saw his game-day
preparations, she gasped and declared them
__________.
A. subdued
B. ostentatious
C. pedestrian
Larry dyed his hair blue and green and painted his
face and torso in the same school colors. In
addition, he wore flippers on his feet and hands.
When his girlfriend Maria saw his game-day
preparations, she gasped and declared them
__________.
A. subdued
B. ostentatious
C. pedestrian

23. Item 10
We followed the guide down the stairs to the floor
below the lobby. Then we toured the __________
storerooms where the museum kept priceless
treasures not on display.
A. subterranean
B. lofty
C. incapacitated
We followed the guide down the stairs to the floor
below the lobby. Then we toured the __________
storerooms where the museum kept priceless
treasures not on display.
A. subterranean
B. lofty
C. incapacitated

24. Or the End.
After the
denouement