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Legend for the terms in the chart below
  • Memory word = Can't be sounded-out under the system rules / must be memorized
  • Readable = Can be easily read under the present rules
  • Readable (2) = Can be made readable with the addition of another common rule
  • LC = The letter combination that must be learned for this word to be easy-to-read. If there is nothing specified, the word can be read relying on the usual pronunciation of the alphabet
  • na = not applicable
  • It is assumed all consonants are regular and the student knows those common sounds

Click here for a list of 120 words which is a merging of this list and the first 100 words of the Brown Corpus

Readability Analysis for High Frequency Words #1 to # 100
This system is intended for beginning readers only. Once they are fluent readers of the 9,000-plus Phonetic words now in the system, additional phonetic rules will be added in an effort to make the entire English language Easy-To-Read.
background and evolution / source of words / letter-combinations /
Rank Word Classification Readability Analysis / Discussion LC

1

 the Memory word This is one of the two trickiest words. The "e"in the word is usually pronounced like a short "u", which is very uncommon -- so that makes it a memory word. But if you teach the "e" as standing for a long "e", you finesse that problem. Some teachers successfully use this strategy, knowing full well that the student will actually pronounce the word with the short "u" sound, because that is the way he hears it from family, friends and TV. the
2 be Readable Our rule on this says a final "e" is a bashful vowel. It is silent when other vowels are in the word -- but it makes long sounds when it is the only vowel in a word. final "e"
3 of Memory word "o" is rarely pronounced like a short "u" / "f" is rarely pronounced like a "v" of
4 and Readable An "a" alone is defined as having a short sound -- as in "cat". See the rule at the top of this page. a
5 a Memory word The other of the two trickiest words. "a" has at least 8 sounds. Standing alone, it has two. There is no way to tell which sound applies in the absence of surrounding words which gives context. But once it is near other words -- it is easy-to-read. We do not know how to write a rule for this -- so it is a memory word. a
6 to Memory word An unusual pronunciation for an "o" -- so it is a memory word to
7 in Readable A basic rule in this system is that all vowels stand for a short sound by default. Therefor the "i" is short and the word is readable. See the rule at the top of this page. i
8 he Memory word see # 2, "be" final "e"
9 have Readable In this system a final "e" is silent. The "a" is "short" by default, so the word is readable final "e"
10 it Readable See #7, "in". See the rule at the top of this page. i
11 that Readable We have no idea how every kid learns the voiced and unvoiced "th" sounds -- but they do so we are calling this readable without a special rule for that pronunciation. th,a
12 for Readable The letter combination "or" is defined as having the speech sound /or/ as in "or" and "for" or
13 they Memory word I the future, we will probably develop a rule for "ey" wherein it is defined as having a long "a" sound. We are not ready to do that for beginners because of words like "key", and "monkey" they
14 I Readable (2) We do not have a rule covering this --- but we should write one that says an "i" by itself as a word is pronounced as a long "i". I
15 with Readable Straightforward: Again though, we have no idea how kids know this takes an unvoiced "th" i, th
16 as Readable This is another one we do not understand. The "s" can have an /s/ sound or a /z/ sound. Everyone sesms to "get it" without specific teaching -- so we will let sleeping dogs lie a
17 not Readable A classic CVC word with a short vowel. See the rule at the top of this page. o
18 on Readable Straightforward: the vowel is short. See the rule at the top of this page. o
19 she Readable Our rule on this says a final "e" is a bashful vowel. It is silent when other vowels are in the word -- but it makes long sounds when it is the only vowel in a word. final "e"
20 at Readable Straightforward: the vowel is short. See the rule at the top of this page. a
21 by Memory word There are more that 15 short words which end in "y" and they all have the speech-sound of a long "i". But there are hundreds of words that end in "y" where the speech sound is a long "e". We defined the long "e' as being regular -- that makes this word a memory word by
22 this Readable Again, we are going with the flow on the "th" and "s" and we are calling this readable without the need for special rules th
23 we Readable Our rule on this says a final "e" is a bashful vowel. It is silent when other vowels are in the word -- but it makes long sounds when it is the only vowel in a word. final "e"
24 you Memory word "ou" usually stands for the sound in "out" -- so it make "you" a memory word you
25 do Memory word see #6 "to" do
26 but Readable Another classic CVC word with a short vowel. See the rule at the top of this page. na
27 from Memory word A strange pronunciation for the "o" -- so it is a memory word from
28 or Readable See #12, "for" or
29 which Readable Can be read as easily as a CVC word if you know the letter combinations"wh" and "ch" wh, ch
30 one Memory word There is no way to explain the "w" in the pronunciation -- so it is a memory word one
31 would Memory word The "ou" has been defined as the sound in "out", so this is a memory word because it does not have that sound. We plan on later writing a rule that covers the letter combination "ould". That will make "could", "should" and "would" readable. We don't gain much by doing that, but it seems worthwhile as a matter of principle. would
32 all Readable "all" is defined as having the speech-sound /all/. That makes this word and lots of others readable all
33 will Readable Not quite CVC word -- but it can be read as easily. See the rule at the top of this page. na
34 there Memory word We will probably later write a rule that covers "ere" and which makes "there", "where" and "ere" readable. You could also say the final "e" makes the middle "e" long -- but we do not have that rule in our system at the present time. We have a rule that "er" (also "ir" and "ur") is pronounced as /ur/ -- that makes this a memory word there
35 say Readable "ay" is a letter combination that is defined as having a dedicated speech-sound -- it is a long "a" ay
36 who Memory word In a "wh", the w is usually pronounced, and the "h" is silent -- not here, thus it is a memory word who
37 make Readable (2) Our system does not use a final "e" to mark the vowel in front of it as "long". That rule will be added once students get our present rules down pat. na
38 when Readable Not a CVC word -- but it can be easily read if you understand that "wh" has the speech-sound of a "w". See the rule at the top of this page. wh
39 can Readable Classic, readable CVC word. See the rule at the top of this page. na
40 more Readable Easy-to-read -- because "or" is defined to have the speech-sound /or/. See #12 and #28. And the "e" is defined as silent. or
41 if Readable The "i" is defined as standing for a short sound. See the rule at the top of this page. na
42 no Readable Words ending in "o" are defined as having a long vowel pronunciation "o" ending
43 man Readable Another CVC word. See the rule at the top of this page. na
44 out Readable "ou" is defined as having the sound in "out" or "cow" ou
45 other Memory word The starting "o" is unusual. It makes this word a memory-word other
46 so Readable Words ending in "o" are defined as having a long vowel pronunciation so
47 what Memory word The "a" is neither short nor long (it is a short "u") -- the word is therefor a memory word what
48 time Readable (2) See #37. Our system doesn't use a final "e" to mark the preceding vowel as "long". That rule will probably be added na
49 up Readable Classic simple word. See the rule at the top of this page. na
50 go Readable Words ending in "o" are defined as having a long vowel pronunciation go
51 about Readable If you ignore the fact that most people do not pronounce the "a" either long or short, this word follows our rules ou
52 than Readable Almost a CVC word and just as easy to read. See the rule at the top of this page. th
53 into Memory word An unusual pronunciation for an "o" -- so it is a memory word. See #6, "to". into
54 could Memory word See #31 above. The "ou" has been defined as the sound in "out", so this is a memory word because it does not have that sound. could
55 state Readable (2) See #37. Our system doesn't use a final "e" to mark the preceding vowel as "long". That rule will probably be added na
56 only Memory word It is a memory word because the "o" is not short -- as defined by our rule for vowels standing alone only
57 new Readable (2) Not readable under our present system -- but we could and will later write a rule that will define "ew" as having the long "u" sound it has in this word na
58 year Readable Our system defines "ea" as standing for a long "e". ear
59 some Memory word It is a memory word because the "o" is neither short nor long. some
60 take Readable (2) See #37. Our system doesn't use a final "e" to mark the preceding vowel as "long". That rule will probably be added. na
61 come Memory word It is a memory word because the "o" is neither short nor long. come
62 these Readable (2) See #37. Our system doesn't use a final "e" to mark the preceding vowel as "long". That rule will probably be added na
63 know Memory word We have a rule to cover the "kn", but the "ow" does not have the sound in "cow" as defined. So it is a memory word. know
64 see Readable "ee" always has a long "e" sound in our system -- so this word is readable. ee
65 use Memory word The word has a beginning "y" sound as in "yell". But the printed word does not tell us that. It is therefor a memory word use
66 get Readable A classic CVC word. See the rule at the top of this page. na
67 like Readable (2) See #37. Our system doesn't use a final "e" to mark the preceding vowel as "long". That rule will probably be added na
68 then Readable Almost a CVC word and just as easy to read. . See the rule at the top of this page. na
69 first Readable Almost a CVC word and just as easy to read if you know "ir" is always pronouncd like the "ur" in fur ir
70 any Memory word The "a" is neither short nor long (it is a short "e") -- the word is therefor a memory word any
71 work Memory word "or" is defined as having an /or/ sound as in 'or'. In "work" it does not have that sound -- so it is a memory word. work
72 now Readable As readable as "cow" ow
73 may Readable "ay" is defined as having a long "a" sound -- thus this word is readable ay
74 such Readable Comparable to a CVC word -- if you know the "ch" combination. See the rule at the top of this page. ch
75 give Readable The final "e" is silent and the "i" is short under our rules. See the rule at the top of this page. final "e"
76 over Memory word It is a memory word because the "o" is not short -- as defined by our rule for vowels standing alone. See the rule at the top of this page. over
77 think Readable "ink" is a letter-combination that is defined to always have the speech-sound /ink/ as in "think" ink
78 most Memory word It is a memory word because the "o" is not short -- as defined by our rule for vowels standing alone. See the rule at the top of this page. most
79 even Memory word The starting "e" is a problem. We have no rule that says it should be long. Therefor, it should be short by default under our rule that says all vowels are short by default. Since it isn't short, it is a memory word even
80 find Readable (2) Not currently readable in our system, but it can be if we define "ind" as having a long vowel sound as in "mind', "find", "kind", "rind", "bind", "blind", behind. That would mean we'd have to eliminate words like "wind", "industry" and "independent" from our easy-to-read list, so it will take some analysis before wedo that na
81 day Readable "ay" is defined as having a long "a" sound -- thus this word is readable ay
82 also Memory word The "a" is neither short nor long -- the word is therefor a memory word also
83 after Readable All the letters have their regular pronunciation if you know the "er" is always pronounced as in "her". er
84 way Readable "ay" is defined as having a long "a" sound -- thus this word is readable ay
85 many Memory word The "a" is neither short nor long (it is a short "e") -- the word is therefor a memory word many
86 must Readable Almost a CVC word and just as easy to read. See the rule at the top of this page. na
87 look Readable "ook" is defined as having the sound /ook/ ook
88 before Readable The final "e" is defined as being silent. The "or" is defined as /or/, and all the other letters are natural. or. final "e"
89 great Memory word "ea" is not usually a long "a". We define "ea" as standing for a long "e". This word is therefor a memory word. great
90 back Readable Comparable to a CVC word. See the rule at the top of this page. na
91 through Readable (2) This isn't readable, but it might be at a later date if we define "ough" as standing for the sound in this word. We will have to consider all the possible pronunciations of this letter-combination and pick the most common one. The others will be memory words na
92 long Readable Readable if you think the word is pronounced l/o/ng. If you think it is l/aw/ng, it is a memory word ng
93 where Memory word We will probably later write a rule that covers "ere" and which makes "there", "where" and "ere" readable. You could also say the final "e" makes the middle "e" long -- but we do not have that rule in our system at the present time. We have a rule that "er" (also "ir" and "ur") is pronounced as /ur/ -- that makes this a memory word na
94 much Readable Comparable to a CVC word -- if you know the "ch" combination. See the rule at the top of this page. ch
95 should Memory word See # 31, would and #54, could. should
96 well Readable Almost a CVC word and just as easy to read. See the rule at the top of this page. na
97 people Memory word The ending "le" falls under our rules, but the "eo" does not. This letter-combination will be introduced to beginners later. eo, le
98 down Readable Almost a CVC word and easy to read if you know "ow" is pronounced as in "cow". See the rule at the top of this page. ow
99 own Memory word A memory word because the "ow" does not follow our rule for an "ow". See "down" above. own
100 just Readable Almost a CVC word and just as easy to read. See the rule at the top of this page. na
55 Readable words ......... 35 Memory words .......... 10 Hybrid words........... 100 Total words