Fry’s Sight Words

– in Frequency Order

Edward B. Fry, Ph.D., took the concept of sight 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