Explain a passage

When a sentence or paragraph stops you, select it and ask for an explanation.

How to ask

1. Select the passage in the reader.
2. Choose Open lookup tools from the selection toolbar, or press L.
3. Open the AI tab.

You can select up to 4,000 characters. The explanation also draws on up to 500 words that come just before your selection in the same chapter, so it understands what the author has been building towards.

You can ask up to five follow-up questions about the same passage. If you want a different kind of answer, choose Edit prompt to change what we ask for and run it again.

Single words

If you select one word, we look it up in a free dictionary first. That uses no AI and does not count towards your allowance. Choose Explain in context if you want AI to explain how the word is used in this passage.

Pictures

You can also ask about a figure or illustration in a book. The explanation uses the picture and the text around it.

Limits

Each explanation and each follow-up counts towards your monthly explanation allowance. Only answers you actually receive count. See AI limits per plan.

Saved explanation conversations are deleted 90 days after the last message. If you have turned AI off, the AI tab tells you so and nothing is sent. See turning AI off.