Which of the following is a sign that a miscue might be meaning-based rather than decode-based?

• A. The misread keeps the same phonetic pattern.
• B. The reader pauses awkwardly.
• C. The misread preserves meaning and makes sense in the sentence.
• D. The reader pronounces every phoneme clearly.

Answer: (C)

The sign of a meaning-based miscue is when the substitute word still makes sense in the sentence and fits the overall meaning. This shows the reader is using context and semantic cues to guess the word, rather than relying solely on decoding the printed letters. When a misread preserves meaning and the sentence still sounds right, it indicates processing at the level of meaning.

In contrast, keeping the same phonetic pattern suggests the reader is focusing on phonics and letter-to-sound correspondences, which is more about decoding. An awkward pause points to fluency or processing speed issues rather than a meaning-based substitution. Pronouncing every phoneme clearly reflects accurate decoding, not a meaning-driven guess.