High Frequency Spelling Words

There are the most common words in English, ranked in frequency order. The first 25 make up about a third of all printed material.

The Instant Words*

Words 1-25

Words 26-50
Words 51-75
Words 76-100
the
of
and
a
to
in
is
you
that
it
he
was
for
on
are
as
with
his
they
I
at
be
this
have
from

or
one
had
by
word
but
not
what
all
were
we
when
your
can
said
there
use
an
each
which
she
do
how
their
if

will
up
other
about
out
many
then
them
these
so
some
her
would
make
like
him
into
time
has
look
two
more
write
go
see

number
no
way
could
people
my
than
first
water
been
call
who
oil
now
find
long
down
day
did
get
come
made
may
part
over

 

 

 

Getting Ready for School

 

 

 

 

*For additional instant words, see 3,000 Instant Words, 2nd Ed., by Elizabeth Sakiey and Edward Fry, Jamestone Publications, Providence, RI, 1984.