Skip to content

Words for looking closely

Word notes
  • observe — To watch carefully so you can describe what is really there. Example: We observe the seedlings before we water them.. Not: Glancing at a poster and guessing.. Parts: no affix.
  • describe — To tell the features someone else could check. Example: Describe the leaf by color, size, and edge.. Not: Saying it is nice.. Parts: de- + scribe (write).
  • explain — To tell why or how something happened. Example: Explain why the shaded bed stayed damp.. Not: Naming the object only.. Parts: ex- + plain.
  • compare — To say how two things are alike and different. Example: Compare the sunny bed and the shady bed.. Not: Listing one thing.. Parts: com- (together) + pare.
  • evidence — Information that can support an idea. Example: The 55 bottles are evidence, not a guess.. Not: A wish that something is true.. Parts: no affix.
  • because — A word that introduces a cause. Example: The soil cracked because it was dry.. Not: A word that only adds excitement.. Parts: no affix.
  • result — What happens because of something else. Example: The result of daily water was open leaves.. Not: The starting seed.. Parts: re- + sult.
  • record — To write or draw an observation so it can be checked later. Example: Record the bird count in the table.. Not: Remembering silently.. Parts: re- + cord.

context

We _____ the seedlings before we water them.