In miscue analysis during reading, which cueing system focuses on letter-sound relationships?

• A. Semantics cues
• B. Graphophonics cues (letter-sound relationships) are analyzed to inform instruction.
• C. Syntactic cues
• D. All cues are equal

Answer: (B)

When readers try to identify a word, miscue analysis looks at which information they rely on most: meaning, grammar, or the way letters map to sounds. The cue that focuses on letter-sound relationships is graphophonics. This cue reflects decoding: how phonemes map to graphemes, how letter patterns inform pronunciation, and how a reader uses phonics knowledge to figure out an unfamiliar word. If a reader’s substitution or attempt seems driven by sound patterns of letters rather than by what would make sense in the sentence or how the word should fit grammatically, you’re seeing graphophonics in action. For example, noticing a reader rely on initial sounds or common letter-sound patterns to guess a word—even when meaning or syntax would suggest a different reading—points to graphophonics. This understanding guides instruction toward strengthening letter-sound knowledge and decoding strategies.