Fry’s Sight Words – in Frequency Order

Fry’s Sight Words List

– in Frequency Order

Edward B. Fry, Ph.D., took the concept of sigh words to a new level with the publication of his book, 1,000 Instant Words, in the late 1990s. He refers to sight words as instant words; they are the most commonly used words in our language and should be recognized instantly. More recently, Dr. Fry along with Dr. Kress published, The Reading Teacher’s Book of Lists, which also contained 1,000 instant words.

Interestingly, the lists are very similar and despite the passage of time, there were minor differences. The sight words noted below are ranked in order of frequency. The first twenty-five words represent about a third of written material. In addition, the first one hundred words (table 1) represent approximately 50% of all printed material. If you add another 200 words (table 2 and 3), these 300 words represent about 65% of all written material.

Fry’s Sight Words List – First Hundred

These words represent appproximately 50% of all printed material.

1. the 26. or 51. will 76. number
2. of 27. one 52. up 77. no
3. and 28. had 53. other 78. way
4. a 29. by 54. about 79. could
5. to 30. word 55. out 80. people
6. in 31. but 56. many 81. my
7. is 32. not 57. then 82. than
8. you 33. what 58. them 83. first
9. that 34. all 59. these 84. water
10. it 35. were 60. so 85. been
11. he 36. we 61. some 86. call
12. was 37. when 62. her 87. who
13. for 38. your 63. would 88. am
14. on 39. can 64. make 89. its
15. are 40. said 65. like 90. now
16. as 41. there 66. him 91. find
17. with 42. use 67. into 92. long
18. his 43. an 68. time 93. down
19. they 44. each 69. has 94. day
20. I 45. which 70. look 95. did
21.at 46. she 71. two 96. get
22. be 47. do 72. more 97. come
23. this 48. how 73. write 98. made
24. have 49. their 74. go 99. may
25. from 50. if 75. see 100. part

Fry’s Sight Words List – Second Hundred

When combined with the other two lists, these words represent approximately 65% of all printed material.

101. over 126. say 151. set 176. try
102. new 127. great 152. put 177. kind
103. sound 128. where 153. end 178. hand
104. take 129. help 154. does 179. picture
105. only 130. through 155. another 180. again
106. little 131. much 156. well 181. change
107. work 132. before 157. large 182. off
108. know 133. line 158. must 183. play
109. place 134. right 159. big 184. spell
110. year 135. too 160. even 185. air
111. live 136. mean 161. such 186. away
112. me 137. old 162. because 187. animal
113. back 138. any 163. turn 188. house
114. give 139. same 164. here 189. point
115. most 140. tell 165. why 190. page
116. very 141. boy 166. ask 191. letter
117. after 142. follow 167. went 192. mother
118. thing 143. came 168. men 193. answer
119. our 144. want 169. read 194. found
120. just 145. show 170. need 195. study
121. name 146. also 171. land 196. still
122. good 147. around 172. different 197. learn
123. sentence 148. farm 173. home 198. should
124. man 149. three 174. us 199. America
125. think 150. small 175. move 200. world

Fry’s Sight Words List – Third Hundred

When combined with the other two lists, these words represent a about 65% of all written material.

201. high 226. saw 251. important 276.miss
202. every 227. left 252. until 277. idea
203. near 228. don’t 253. children 278. enough
204. add 229. few 254. side 279. eat
205. food 230. while 255. feet 280. facet
206. between 231. along 256. car 281. watch
207. own 232. might 257. mile 282. far
208. below 233. close 258. night 283. Indian
209. country 234. something 259. walk 284. really
210. plant 235. seem 260. white 285. almost
211. last 236. next 261. sea 286. let
212. school 237. hard 262. began 287. above
213. father 238. open 263. grow 288. girl
214. keep 239. example 264. took 289. sometimes
215. tree 240. begin 265. river 290. mountain
216. never 241. life 266. four 291. cut
217. start 242. always 267. carry 292. young
218. city 243. those 268. state 293. talk
219. earth 244. both 269. once 294. soon
220. eye 245. paper 270. book 295. list
221. light 246. together 271. hear 296. song
222. thought 247. got 272. stop 297. being
223. head 248. group 273. without 298. leave
224. under 249. often 274. second 299. family
225. story 250. run 275. later 300. it’s

Fry’s sight words are a great reference when teaching a child to learn to read.

Source: Fry, E.B., Ph.D. (1999). 1000 Instant Words. Westminster, CA: Teacher Created Materials.

Fry, E.B., Ph.D. & Kress, J.E., Ed.D. (2006). The Reading Teacher’s Book of Lists 5th Edition. Sanfransico, CA: Jossey Bass.

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