If you've researched sight words, you've encountered two names everywhere: Dolch and Fry. Both are respected, research-backed lists of high-frequency English words — but they're not interchangeable. Here's how to choose the right one.
The Dolch List — The Classic
Created by: Dr. Edward William Dolch, 1936
Scope: 220 "service words" + 95 nouns
Organization: By grade level (Pre-Primer through 3rd Grade)
The Dolch list was compiled by analyzing children's books of the 1930s–40s. It contains words that accounted for 50–75% of all words in those books.
Dolch by Grade Level
| Grade | Words | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Primer | 40 | the, and, a, to, it, is, in |
| Primer | 52 | all, am, are, at, ate, be |
| 1st Grade | 41 | after, again, an, any, ask |
| 2nd Grade | 46 | always, around, because, been |
| 3rd Grade | 41 | about, better, bring, carry |
Best for: Parents and teachers who want a grade-level-organized approach. If your child is in Kindergarten, you simply work through the Primer list.
The Fry List — The Comprehensive
Created by: Dr. Edward Fry, 1957 (updated 1980)
Scope: 1,000 words organized by frequency
Organization: By frequency groups of 100
The Fry list is based on a broader analysis of written English (not just children's books). The first 300 Fry words make up approximately 67% of all written material in English.
Fry by Frequency
| Group | Words | Cumulative Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 1st 100 | words 1–100 | ~50% of all print |
| 2nd 100 | words 101–200 | ~60% |
| 3rd 100 | words 201–300 | ~67% |
| 4th–10th 100 | words 301–1,000 | ~90% |
Best for: Teachers and parents who want a frequency-based approach. Starting with the most common words means your child can read more text, faster.
Key Differences at a Glance
| Feature | Dolch | Fry |
|---|---|---|
| Total words | 315 (220 + 95 nouns) | 1,000 |
| Organization | By grade level | By frequency |
| Source material | Children's books | General written English |
| Nouns included | 95 separate noun list | Integrated into main list |
| Grade range | PreK–3rd | K–5th+ |
| Overlap | ~70% of Dolch words appear in Fry first 300 | — |
Which List Should You Use?
For Parents of PreK–Kindergarteners: Start with Dolch
The Dolch list is more manageable (220 words vs. 1,000) and organized by the grade level your child is in. Start with Pre-Primer and work your way up.
For 1st–3rd Grade Teachers: Use Both
Start with Dolch for grade-level alignment, then transition to Fry for vocabulary expansion. Many schools use both lists in their curriculum.
For ESL/EFL Learners: Start with Fry
The Fry list's frequency-based organization means you learn the most useful words first, regardless of reading level.
For Homeschool Families: Dolch First, Then Fry
Use Dolch for structured grade-level learning, then supplement with Fry words for broader coverage.
Using WordSprout with Both Lists
WordSprout supports both Dolch (all 220 words) and Fry (first 300 words). Our tools let you:
- Switch between lists with one click
- Track progress across both lists independently
- Generate printable resources for either list
- Practice with interactive games using words from either list