The 300 Most Common Words

These are the words that are the most common words students find in reading, and writing, and need to learn how to spell.     The first 100 words make up 50% of all written material.  All 300 common words make up 65% of all written material.  These words are listed, going down, according to frequency of use.  Children see them over and over again in their beginning stories and they learn them using "beginning sounds" and simple phonetic clues along with context.  Students should be able to recognize these words instantly for reading fluency and be able to spell them rapidly and correctly for writing fluency by the third grade.

Keep in mind that there are common suffixes for many of the words.  Such as: y, ed, ly, er, ing, est, es, and s.

 

 

 

First 100 Common Words

the or will number
of one up no
and had other way
a by about could
to word out people
in but many my
is not then than
you what them first
that all these water
it were so been
he we some call
was when her who
for your would oil
on can make now
are said like find
as there him long
with use into down
his an time day
they each has did
I which look get
at she two come
be do more made
this how write may
have their go part
from if see over

 

2nd 100 Common Words

new great put kind
sound where and hand
take help does picture
only through another again
little much well change
work before large off
know line must play
place right big spell
year too even air
live mean such away
me old because animal
back any turn house
give same here point
most tell why page
very boy ask letter
after follow went mother
thing came men answer
our want read found
just show need study
name also land still
good around different learn
sentence form home should
man three us America
think small move world
say set try high

        

 

3rd 100 Common Words

every left until idea
near don't children enough
add few side eat
food while feet face
between along car watch
own might mile far
below close night Indian
country something walk real
plant seem white almost
last next sea let
school hard began above
father open grow girl
keep example took sometimes
tree begin river mountain
never life four cut
start always carry young
city those state talk
earth both once soon
eye paper book list
light together hear song
thought got stop leave
head group without family
under often second body
story run late music
saw important miss color