Explicit meaning

Explicit meaning is information or meaning that is stated directly and openly in a text. The reader can find it clearly on the surface without having to work anything out. If a text says the museum closes at five, that is explicit: it is spelled out in plain words.

Explicit meaning contrasts with implicit meaning, which is suggested rather than stated. Recognising explicit meaning is the foundation of comprehension. Many reading questions first ask you to retrieve information that the text states directly.

They then move on to deeper, inferred meaning.

In the reading paper, some questions test whether you can locate explicit information accurately. Careless reading can lose these straightforward marks. Knowing the difference between explicit and implicit meaning also helps you judge what a question really asks.

You must decide whether to retrieve a stated fact or infer a suggested one. Getting the explicit meaning right first is essential before you attempt the more demanding work of interpretation and inference.

A passage states plainly that the storm lasted three days. The length of the storm is explicit meaning that the reader can quote directly from the text.

For questions testing explicit meaning, scan the text for the exact information and quote or state it accurately, without adding interpretation. Read the question carefully to see whether it wants a stated fact or an inferred idea. Getting explicit detail precisely right secures the straightforward marks.

It also gives you a firm base for any inference the later questions require.

You may also find Reading for explicit meaning and Edexcel ESL reading techniques useful. Next, visit our skills guides for IGCSE English to see terms like this used in real answers. Our IGCSE English tuition page explains how lessons run. When you are ready, the paid one-hour trial is the first step.