One model of interactive processing useful in describing word identification processes in discourse context is of a weakly interactive type. This type assumes that the time to identify a word in context is an activation function, whereas the time to activate a word in memory beyond some criterial identification threshold is a multiplicative function of context plus the individual's basic word processing rate. Studies confirm this model's predictions for individual differences in the time to read a word in context: skilled readers identify words more quickly and are affected less either by context or by stimulus degrading than unskilled readers. Conversly, while less skilled readers are more dependent on context to compensate for less efficient word identification skills, they are less able to use context to predict words. (HOD)