Reading Between the Lines

Sometimes, writers don't say everything directly. You have to use clues from the text and what you already know to figure things out—this is called making an inference.

• Inferences are educated guesses.
• Conclusions are judgments you make after reading all the information.

How to Make Inferences

1. Look for hints or clues in the text.
2. Think about what you already know.
3. Combine clues and knowledge to make a guess.

Practice Makes Perfect

The more you practice, the better you'll get at understanding hidden meanings.

Real-World Importance

You use inferences every day: understanding a friend's mood from their text, guessing the weather from the sky, or predicting what happens next in a movie.