Fry Words

What are Fry’s Instant Words

Fry’s Instant Words are the most common words used in English, listed in order of frequency, and include all parts of speech. Also known as Fry sight words or high frequency words, they must be easily recognized in order to achieve reading fluency. Fry’s sight words lists, by grade level, account for 50 to 75 percent of the words used in schoolbooks, library books, newspapers, and magazines, so it’s important for children to learn the correct spelling and to recognize the words instantly by sight. This allows the child to concentrate on reading comprehension without having to stop and decode each word. VocabularySpellingCity’s Fry word games and activities help students retain information and apply their knowledge in and out of the classroom.

In 1996, Dr. Edward Fry expanded on the Dolch sight word lists and published the book Fry 1000 Instant Words.

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Fry Words Sample List
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Phonics Games for Kids
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How SpellingCity Works

Fry’s research found:

  • 25 words make up approximately one-third of all published text.
  • 100 sight words comprise approximately 50 percent of all of the words found in publications.
  • 300 words make up approximately 65 percent of all written material.

It is recommended that:

  • The first 100 fry words, considered the most frequently occurring in the English language, should be mastered in Grade 1.
  • The fry second 100 sight words should be mastered in 2nd Grade.
  • The third 100 words should be mastered in Grade 3.
  • The remaining fry sight word lists (words 301-1000) should be mastered in Grades 4-5.

Learn more about Sight Words

Spelling TeachMe is a Fry word activity that helps students know and memorize spelling and vocabulary words.

Play the Fry word game Spelling TeachMe with a 2nd grade sight word list, or any other grade level, for Fry words.

Fry Word Games

Word Unscramble provides practice rearranging letters to correctly spell words on students’ Fry sight word lists by grade level.

Play Word Unscramble with 4th grade sight word lists, or any other grade level, for Fry words.

Fry Sight Word Lists by Grade Level

Missing Letter provides practice recognizing letters to complete a word.

Play Missing Letter with a 6th grade sight word list, or any other grade level, for Fry words.

Fry Word Activities