3000 Words Written Most Frequently - WOU...

3000 Most Commonly Spelled Words 1

3000 WordsWritten Most Frequently

in Grades 2 – 8The 3000 words account for 95% of the total word count.

The first 1500 words account for 90% of the total word countThe first 1000 words account for 87% of the total word count.The first 500 words account for 80% of the total word count.

From: Thomas, V. (1979). Teaching spelling: Canadian Word Lists &Instructional Techniques (2nd. Ed.), Gage Publishing, Toronto

WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITYSpecial Educator Program

Prepared by B. Brownbridge

Canadian Spelling Word Lists (Thomas, 1979)


Words 1 – 100(These 100 words account for 59 % of the total word counts)

Word (Grade Level) – (Words are in descending order of frequency)

the (2) will (2) see (2) but (2)came (2) would (2) went (2) big (2)out (2) my (2) two (2) there (2)and (2) very (2) now (2) did (2)saw (2) home (2) when (2) had (2)up (2) we (2) after (2) no (2)I (2) do (2) or (2) me (2)if (2) not (2) for (2) man (2)his (2) of (2) house (2) have (2)a(2) down (2) school (2) am (2)as (2) some (2) so (2) with (2)at (2) is (2) dog (2) good (2)to (2) them (2) their (2) are (2)because (2) people (2) one (2) too (2)him (2) you (2) little (2) all (2)was (2) about (2) play (2) once (2)going (2) into (2) then (2) got (2)her (2) they (2) from (2) ran (2)in (2) back (2) an (2) go (2)what (2) just (2) she (2) name (2)be (2) on (2) could (2) like (2)it (2) our (2) by (2) know (2)time (2) over (2) said (2) day (2)get (2) that (2) mother (2) took (2)he (2) can (2) come (2) were (2)


Words 101 – 200

how (2) more (3) take (2) place (2)who (2) nice (2) water (2) yes (2)started (3) friends (2) only (3) really (2)put (2) way (2) long (2) eat (2)old (2) think (3) morning (2) last (3)night (2) asked (2) five (2) left (3)has (2) friend (2) make (2) oh (2)your (2) father (2) things (2) it’s (2)off (2) looked (2) I’m (2) thing (2)us (2) summer (2) girl (2) another (3)around (3) first (3) much (3) through (3)next (2) made (2) years (2) find (2)other (2) never (2) bed (2) say (2)well (3) here (3) lot (2) black (2)away (2) didn’t (2) look (2) run (2)fun (2) want (2) four (2) gave (2)three (2) right (3) lived (2) family (2)cat (2) horse (2) many (3) before (3)where (2) don’t (2) fish (2) help (2)Mom (2) car (2) new (2) ever (3)told (2) heard (3) thought (3) walking (2)boy (2) called (3) always (3) soon (3)Dad (2) why (2) bear (2) even (3)again (3) door (2) tree (2) should (3)found (2) something (2) wanted (3) best (3)


Words 201 – 300

happy (2) sometimes (2) than (3) small (3)its (3) men (3) getting (3) eyes (3)named (2) let (2) fishing (2) looking (3)fell (2) caught (2) playing (2) bad (2)still (3) money (4) hundred (3) ball (2)white (2) game (3) wish (2) town (2)been (3) live (2) boat (3) sure (3)love (2) spring (2) store (2) boys (2)ride (2) while (3) decided (3) everyone (3)year (3) sister (2) give (2) finally (3)tell (3) walk (2) later (3) feet (3)which (4) tried (3) horses (2) few (3)room (3) until (3) baby (2) end (3)brother (2) most (3) played (2) blue (2)swimming (2) mad (2) that’s (2) lost (2)any (3) woods (3) teacher (2) okay (3)upon (2) outside (2) animals (2) knew (3)coming (2) ten (3) fast (2) week (3)hope (2) police (3) scared (3) stay (3)food (2) world (3) beautiful (3) story (2)every (3) days (3) walked (3) pretty (2)lots (2) hit (2) red (2) brown (2)fire (3) six (2) head (3) great (3)also (3) children (2) better (3) today (2)work (2) pet (2) jumped (3) couldn’t (3)


Words 301 – 400

green (2) daddy (2) cars (3) open (3)I’ll (3) stopped (3) goes (2) hockey (4)ate (2) flowers (2) ground (3) lake (3)dogs (2) happened (3) makes (2) cats (2)funny (2) buy (3) mouse (2) show (3)likes (2) along (3) air (3) comes (2)might (2) dollars (3) half (7) nothing (4)shot (5) everything (3) having (3) road (3)sun (2) may (2) street (3) bought (3)gone (3) being (3) suddenly (3) does (3)life (4) running (3) almost (3) girls (2)seven (2) hard (3) each (6) miles (4)trees (2) someone (3) rabbit (2) start (2)birthday (2) turned (3) eight (3) try (2)can’t (2) hair (3) high (3) use (3)trip (3) woke (3) second (3) winter (3)brought (3) doing (3) kitten (2) watch (2)sleep (2) ready (4) hot (2) window (3)won (3) anything (3) let’s (2) ago (3)behind (3) liked (2) sat (3) fine (6)birds (2) together (2) bird (2) king (3)farm (2) must (3) keep (6) nine (2)same (3) supper (3) sudden (4) park (2)these (4) under (3) Canada (4) read (2)bikes (4) call (3) everybody (3) own (4)


Words 401 – 500

gun (2) weeks (4) kind (3) Saturday (3)hour (4) hours (4) seen (6) such (4)wasn’t (3) top (3) country (6) feel (4)died (3) inside (3) dark (8) book (2)knee (5) grade (3) different (4) grass (2)those (3) lunch (3) face (3) ask (3)stop (3) picked (3) box (2) bring (2)twenty (4) guess (3) please (4) care (3)write (4) kept (3) side (3) hole (3)used (4) plane (4) cave (3) sea (4)forest (3) talk (3) island (4) kids (4)truck (2) riding (2) person (4) puppy (2)snow (3) fight (3) lady (3) bit (3)

rest (4) front (8) sky (3) governments(7)

moon (3) land (3) cold (3) letter (2)mommy (2) city (4) this (2) mean (3)myself (3) minutes (4) real (3) stayed (4)whole (7) parents (4) camp (4) times (3)both (4) camping (3) enough (4) ship (3)killed (3) dead (4) space (4) tail (3)noise (3) far (3) done (3) glad (2)set (3) flying (3) television (3) hands (5)cut (3) race (3) beach (3) leaves (3)finished (3) awhile (7) games (3) sad (2)fly (3) fall (3) hear (4) thousand (3)


Words 501 – 600

trying (4) baseball (3) kinds (5) lion (2)breakfast (8) mile (2) months (4) shark (4)course (4) dream (4) poor (6) hospital (3)gets (3) party (3) plant (3) move (4)broke (3) talking (4) swim (2) tired (3)catch (2) full (4) mountain (4) you’re (4)earth (3) ghost (4) pay (5) felt (3)everyday (2) need (4) elephant (2) haunted (3)grow (2) thank (4) barn (3) sound (4)maybe (3) holiday (3) fat (3) doesn’t (3)across (4) turn (4) names (3) I’d (3)believe (4) clothes (3) part (4) magic (3)floor (3) o’clock (4) since (5) visit (3)rock (3) pulled (5) without (5) asleep (3)light (3) thirty (4) began (3) garden (3)pick (3) dinner (3) bus (2) drive (4)uncle (4) nineteen (4) happily (3) field (3)feed (2) hi (4) afternoon (3) he’s (3)monster (7) kill (3) hill (3) phone (5)gold (3) favorite (3) jump (2) pony (2)met (3) wind (3) living (4) river (3)paper (4) witch (3) nobody (4) sick (3)class (3) team (3) tall (4) sit (4)hurt (3) animal (3) foot (3) candy (3)wait (4) doctor (3) leave (4) monkey (2)


Words 601 – 700

sitting (4) deer (6) sing (3) wonder (4)wouldn’t (3) fox (3) against (5) yelled (5)yet (4) June (5) eating (3) young (5)fifteen (3) lives (4) guy (4) castle (3)making (4) third (4) late (4) gas(s)twelve (4) babies (3) near (3) grabbed (5)bears (2) beside (4) reading (4) million (3)kittens (3) Friday (4) stranger (4) says (4)month (4) stairs (4) there’s (5) Sunday (3)we’re (4) Canadian (6) trouble (8) cage (4)cow (2) drink (4) writing (5) drove (4)ice (4) line (5) brothers (4) looks (3)job (4) loved (3) table (6) reached (5)warm (4) Indians (7) teeth (3) station (5)Christmas (5) knocked (8) war (4) able (4)tent (3) moved (4) wild (3) born (4)else (4) taking (4) large (5) couple (4)zoo (7) tomorrow (7) middle (5) free (4)close (4) won’t (4) passed (4) God (4)Montreal (5) yellow (3) prince (3) I’ve (5)pig (2) fifty (5) quite (5) legs (5)sleeping (4) himself (3) rocks (4) pool (3)wrong (4) ill (6) they’re (4) short (5)beef (7) landed (5) train (5) this (2)clean (3) nose (3) wants (3) voice (5)


Words 701 – 800

anyway (5) plays (2) guys (4) stood (5)chair (3) sent (4) problem (5) already (5)except (4) afraid (3) rode (4) anymore (4)instead (5) became (4) skunk (3) apple (4)isn’t (5) cows (3) blood (8) arrived (5)stuff (5) eleven (5) build (4) bedroom (8)win (5) hello (4) early (4) climb (3)bright (5) learn (6) idea (4) cried (3)waiting (5) mine (7) least (5) huge(s)allowed (4) struck (6) public (8) matter (4)captain (5) working (5) replied (7) sunny (4)hungry (3) cousin (4) saying (4) wall (4)leg (3) dressed (4) woman (3) anyone (5)thinking (4) flower (5) bank (5) coat (3)wolf (3) mice (4) meet (4) number (4)yard (4) minute (4) places (4) pond (3)alone (4) others (4) smell (3) reason (5)bottom (4) picnic (4) broken (4) remember (4)cabin (4) planet (3) meat (6) sorry (4)hunting (4) rabbits (2) sports (5) teachers (5)Mars (4) rocket (4) stand (5) upstairs (4)true (3) slowly (5) books (3) waited (4)wood (3) yesterday (6) cool (5) aunt (4)eggs (8) biggest (4) ones (8) cute (4)flew (4) cake (2) pink (4) giant (4)


Words 801 – 900

knows (6) club (4) seventy (6) wife (5)kitchen (4) cookies (3) usually (5) Mr. (4)pets (2) die (4) she’s (4) break (5)snake (3) loud (5) especially (5) corner (5)storm (4) mouth (4) eye (5) doll (2)arms (5) phoned (5) houses (4) dance (2)crying (3) bag (5) married (4) grandmother (4)downstairs (4) bottle (5) sand (4) kid (5)fair (5) bush (4) size (5) mothers (4)picture (4) cannot (7) ugly (3) piece (4)probably (5) eats (2) queen (3) runs (3)rope (4) hey(s) building (4) strong (5)sign (4) moving (4) cost (6) surprise (4)watching (4) soft (3) laughed (4) we’ll (4)body (5) takes (4) miss (4) age (5)bugs (4) bite (3) pushed (4) alive (4)built (4) chicken (4) quickly (5) bang (3)crash (4) cry (4) answer (4) kite (3)good-bye (3) cup (4) become (5) bread (3)past (4) followed (5) bunny (2) change (4)shoes (5) football (5) egg (3) dropped (5)showed (6) forgot (4) listen (6) nest (4)taken (5) jungle (4) policeman (4) office (6)tied (4) rich (4) screamed (5) pass (5)watched (4) send (5) shopping (5) though (5)


Words 901 – 1000

toward (5) whale (4) teach (4) ocean (4)beat (6) deep (4) tiny (5) rides (5)case (6) dress (4) chase (6) sisters (4)closer (4) Easter (4) child (6) sold (4)dinosaurs (4) garbage (4) everywhere (5) standing (4)dollar (5) grew (4) excited (5) wonderful (5)fact (7) quiet(s) news (5) adventure (4)frog (4) stars (3) pollution (5) angry (3)human (5) suit (4) season (6) chance (6)packed (5) answered (8) shut (4) either (5)radio (5) apples (5) system (7) feeling (5)ring (5) driving (4) throw (5) less (6)thanks (5) during (5) bell (7) lucky (4)weather (4) helped (3) bridge (5) mother’s (3)wet (4) friend’s (3) chased (4) noticed (7)what’s (4) starting (5) creek (4) paid (6)bigger (4) worked (5) forget (5) round (5)farmer (3) toy (3) hid (4) speed (5)happen (5) cheese (3) mile (5) star (4)hay (2) color (3) stick (4) dear (7)laugh (5) death (5) ears (4) frightened (4)safe (4) dragon (3) July (5) given (6)seemed (5) jail (4) loves (3) gives (6)soccer (3) note (5) master (4) glass (5)somebody (4) shore (5) missed (4) older (5)


Words 1001 – 1100

purple (4) needed (5) tiger (3) trucks (5)rang (5) seems (7) tricks (5) village (5)saved (4) track (5) board (5) washed (6)sight (6) vacation (7) busy (4) blow (4)states (5) wash (5) enjoy (6) chief (4)weekend (5) control (7) equipment (6) fairy (3)words (6) driver (5) fort (4) interesting (4)ray (8) gum (5) forty (6) reward (5)fresh (5) hardly (6) fur (4) seat (5)future (5) hurry (5) golden (5) purchase (8)hate (4) inches (5) hold (5) smart (4)map (5) lights (6) important (6) special (4)movie (4) robins (4) lying (4) raking (8)owner (4) scary (5) mud (4) themselves (6)pictures (4) sell (5) secret (4) range (8)pop (5) spaceship (5) squirrel (4) bat (4)pull (4) swam (4) toys (5) bath (4)remembered (5) talked (5) cousins (4) circus (2)score (5) company (7) cream (5) dumb (5)shop (4) falling (4) jumping (6) fighting (5)Toronto (5) faster (5) newspaper (4) follow (6)New York (5) law (7) period (4) gray (5)exciting (5) lay (5) spend (6) jet (2)hide (5) music (6) princess (4) longer (5)luck (5) terrible (5) slept (6) moment (6)


Words 1101 – 1200

per (5) surprised (4) trail (6) ahead (5)plants (4) trailer (5) wide (4) aren’t (7)power (6) turtle (7) works (6) attack (5)sharp (3) anybody (4) art (4) boss (4)somewhere (6) bionic (5) bees (5) brook (6)sort (6) bones (5) bunch (6) clear (6)sport (5) colt (4) card (5) closed (4)starts (5) dirty (6) chocolate (5) ghosts (5)steeped (5) dishes (3) crazy (6) goat (6)trap (5) fence (5) easy (4) letters (6)treasure (5) filled (6) fixed (5) main (5)trout (4) locked (5) goals (5) motor (5)twice (5) lovely (6) guns (4) paint (4)united (5) means (5) laughing (4) planes (5)following (5) north (5) low (6) player (5)hike (4) pants (5) mountains (6) pot (6)husband (5) pieces (5) oil (6) proud (6)join (6) plan (6) report (6) pup (4)neck (5) plus (5) scored (4) racing (4)onto (6) present (4) smoke (5) screaming (5)orange (4) rather (7) sounds (6) song (6)science (4) seem (7) tonight (4) songs (4)seconds (5) shoe (5) wished (3) spot (6)singing (6) shoot (4) women (7) worried (6)son (4) stores (5) wondering (5) basement (6)


Words 1201 – 1300

between (6) log (5) pounds (6) straight(s)clown (3) owned (4) problems (7) whose (6)desk (5) path (5) races (5) windows (5)duck (3) reach (6) silver (5) April (6)gang (5) save (6) sweet (6) product (8)hall (5) scream (5) telephone (6) army (6)herself (5) shouted (6) wishes (4) boats (4)hunt (4) sixty (6) pulls (8) business (6)Indian (4) skating (6) coffee (4) Canadians (7)learned (4) stole (4) covered (6) chasing (5)net (4) swing (5) crashed (5) colors (4)poem (4) telling (6) department (6) diving (6)pups (4) wake (6) dinosaur (4) explore (6)raining (4) west (4) ended (6) fix (5)shooting (5) yelling (5) fourth (6) fourteen (6)silly (3) bar (4) grown (5) goal (5)above (6) calf (4) key (5) heart (6)progress (8) Calgary (7) mystery (6) pray (8)cents (6) cattle (5) object (5) hotel (4)daughter (5) dangerous (5) order (7) millions (7)dog’s (3) gate (5) principal (5) Monday (5)fed (6) giving (6) putting (6) monsters (6)grandfather (4) growing (5) roses (4) pilot (5)ha (4) lonely (4) rushed (6) pocket (5)held (6) Ontario (6) shall (6) price (7)


Words 1301 – 1400

puppies (6) nurse (7) British Columbia (6) whenever (7)received (6) pair (5) buried (5) worm (5)robber (5) step (5) bushes (4) Alberta (7)south (5) Thursday (5) button (5) apart (5)supposed (6) airport (5) carry (5) bags (5)understand (6) area (6) chest (4) beaver (4)you’ll (5) cherry (4) climbing (4) clock (4)accident (5) church (4) possibly (8) closet (4)awful (6) experience (7) cross (6) dig (6)basket (5) extra (6) doors (6) eighteen (5)calling (5) French (6) example (7) finish (5)check (6) joke (6) exploring (5) form (7)checked (6) lightning (5) falls (6) grows (6)classroom (6) lose (6) fifth (5) haven’t (5)cleaned (5) questions (6) German (8) helicopter (7)clouds (4) service (7) glasses (6) helps (6)dirt (6) shells (6) holes (4) income (8)ducks (6) sleeps (6) interested (5) missing (5)figure (6) slow (7) Olympics (5) motorcycle (6)garage (6) tea (4) quarter (5) Newfoundlandhomework (6) Vancouver (5) roof (6) return (7)knife (5) wore (4) Saskatchewan (5) roll (5)leaving (6) wrote (5) tires (5) scare (5)mostly (6) boom (5) travel (5) sheep (4)nearly (6) bowl (5) wearing (5) sixteen (6)


Words 1401 – 1500

slipped (5) soup (5) playful (6) general (7)stallion (8) spotted (5) rainy (4) grizzly (5)steps (4) study (6) nation (8) group (6)stone (4) trick (5) rooms (6) higher (8)stories (6) tripped (6) seeing (7) monkeys (8)strike (5) valley (5) several (7) popped (7)test (6) zero (6) share (7) population (7)ways (6) although (6) stolen (6) quit (5)America (5) bark (4) surely (7) shirt (6)attic (5) bet (4) thirteen (6) touch (6)bathroom (6) boring (6) toe (5) modern (8)carrots (7) brush (3) Tuesday (6) yours (6)education (6) partner (8) tunnel (6) burning (6)fought (5) cottage (6) whether (6) changed (6)friendly (6) countries (5) bloom (6) discovered (5)visiting (6) doctors (5) bomb (6) dug (6)kicked (6) federal (7) brings (5) farther (6)laid (6) gym (6) carried (6) hanging (6)March (6) however (7) chickens (5) headed (5)pack (7) kiss (5) cleaning (5) honey (7)polar (8) lead (6) count (4) mail (5)robot (5) loose (5) drop (5) mess (6)rough (6) Martian (7) engine (6) mini-bike (6)seventeen (5) often (7) factory (5) nature (6)sir (7) palace (7) fired (8) pain (6)


Words 1501 – 1600

happens (6) flashlight (5) walks (6) language (7)pie (6) heads (5) waves (6) leader (6)planets (7) heavy (7) weren’t (5) moose (6)pound (6) hopped (6) local (8) none (7)rights (7) invisible (4) winning (6) opportunity (7)shining (6) British (5) wow (5) ourselves (8)ships (5) joy (6) anywhere (6) owl (7)sometime (7) lesson (4) backyard (5) planned (7)splash (6) lift (6) bats (4) prize (6)stream (6) paying (6) begin (7) record (7)tank (6) players (6) breeze (6) schools (7)trophy (5) Pluto (8) burn (6) subject (7)Wednesday (5) professor (6) camper (5) sugar (8)attacked (5) puck (6) cash (7) support (7)bars (5) scientist (6) disappeared (6) tag (6)beginning (6) shiny (7) leaders (8) taught (6)below (6) skin (6) dolls (5) tie (4)blanket (6) smashed (6) dreamed (4) tracks (6)coach (5) sounded (6) fit (6) turns (7)cooks (7) spooky (5) flat (6) twenty-five (5)cover (6) staying (6) Florida (8) unidentified (5)crack (7) stupid (6) hook (6) violence (7)dry (6) super (7) invited (6) lawyer (8)famous (5) tape (6) knock (6) worry (7)finger (4) taxes (8) known (5) worst (6)


Words 1601 – 1700

brain (5) man’s (4) knit (8) socks (7)burned (6) ninety (6) creature (6) spots (6)butter (6) potatoes (6) dock (6) stomach (8)cast (5) push (4) England (8) teams (6)certain (7) increasing (8) enjoyed (6) indeed (8)cowboys (4) realize (7) escape (6) trained (8)creatures (6) recess (5) exclaimed (6) troll (3)decide (7) single (7) fights(s) turning (6)dive (6) situation (7) gay(s) wagon (5)drank (5) skeleton (7) guard (5) insects (8)drunk (5) string (5) health (7) yell (7)eaten (6) insurance (8) helping (7) action (8)English (6) teaching (5) highway (5) apartment (6)evening (6) issues (8) imagine (6) August (5)forever (6) thin (6) killing (6) awake (7)forward (6) items (8) mare (4) blast (7)further (7) tower (7) passengers (6) bored (6)heaven (4) type (7) popcorn (4) bottles (6)hills (7) waste (7) practice (7) chairs (6)hog (5) wheels (6) rolled (6) chipmunk (4)instance (7) wolves (6) sale (7) cities (7)jewels (4) worth (7) sandwiches (6) cliff (7)laser (5) attention (7) scores (6) cooked (7)led (6) branches (6) sheriff (6) cougar (7)lie (6) buying (6) shows (6) cups (5)


Words 1701 – 1800

deeper (5) rod (7) couch (7) raise (7)fellow (6) rose (7) dancing (7) rockets (7)fires (6) scientists (7) donkey (4) sink (6)goalie (5) shaking (6) flies (6) slammed (6)grand (6) skinny (7) fright (6) snakes (5)hated (6) smaller (7) frogs (5) squirrels (8)history (6) Holland (8) fruit (5) pole (5)hopping (8) students (7) Hawaii (6) thanked (6)impossible (7) tells (7) hiking (6) tractor (7)information (6) trains (6) hobby (6) truth (8)ladder (5) traveled (6) hop (4) twins (7)league (7) unless (6) largest (5) helmet (8)meal (6) winner (7) lawn (6) address (6)midnight (6) wondered (6) managed (6) Americans (6)national (7) words (6) marks (6) amount (7)oldest (6) yourself (6) mask (7) article (7)opening (6) airplanes (6) meeting (6) awoke (6)outdoors (7) beans (5) Mrs. (4) bake (7)picking (7) beauty (6) nails (4) battle (5)pile (7) birth (7) normal (8) blind (7)plastic (5) boy’s (5) parks (7) canoe (6)realized (6) calm (6) position (7) choice (6)rid (6) cards (6) prices (7) companies (8)ripped (7) collecting (7) possible (7) completely (6)robbers (6) complaint (7) raft (5) crew (6)


Words 1801 – 1900

dad’s (6) presents (4) butterfly (7) prison (8)date (7) protect (8) certainly (7) row (6)draw (7) puts (7) charged (7) saddle (6)exercise (7) question (7) cloud (6) sees (7)father’s (8) returned (7) crowd (7) September (7)finding (7) rifle (6) dreaming (5) gentle (8)firemen (7) salt (7) faces (7) sits (7)France (5) smoking (8) greatest (7) skipping (6)goose (4) sore (7) happiness (5) smelled (7)groups (7) spent (7) hen (6) someday (6)homes (8) tasted (7) hero (8) somehow (7)hose (8) teacher’s (7) inch (6) sorts (7)hunter (5) happiest (8) including (7) stove (5)jacket (6) thunder (6) jar (7) taught (6)jobs (8) travelling (7) Jupiter (5) training (7)journey (8) van (5) landing (7) walls (7)kick (7) wing (6) lap (6) wheel (7)kissed (7) among (7) lazy (6) personal (8)ladies (8) asking (7) magazine (7) act (7)laying (6) badly (6) Manitoba (7) ant (5)lit (7) hearts (8) officer (5) base (5)mark (7) belt (6) paw (4) thirsty (8)mysterious (6) besides (6) meanwhile (7) breath (7)Ottawa (8) bicycle (5) pencil (5) brother’s (6)ponies (4) buildings (8) poison (6) bullet (6)


Words 1901 – 2000

rise (8) male (7) vampire (6) entered (6)carefully (6) manager (6) visited (7) diver (8)sake (8) mansion (5) visiting (6) economy (8)choose (7) marry (5) weight (7) emergency (8)claws (6) Martians (5) wings (6) excuse (8)common (7) medal (8) wise (6) aboard (6)cub (4) mirror (8) bananas (8) admit (8)deal (8) movies (7) bare (7) expected (8)desert (5) neat (6) strength (7) ages (8)diamond (6) nights (7) cart (6) acts (8)glowing (8) parts (7) catching (7) fear (8)Edmonton (6) playground (4) clothing (8) film (7)flour (8) president (6) contest (6) furniture (5)fastest (6) rainbow (6) cooking (7) geese (7)flash (7) unable (8) costs (6) workers (8)freedom (8) sang (6) cuckoo (4) grab (6)groceries (7) Saturn (6) digging (5) guards (6)he’ll (5) tipped (8) downtown (8) hadn’t (7)hiding (5) sense (8) dragged (6) halfway (7)horrible (7) seventy-five (5) earthquake (6) Halloween (6)hurried (7) Halifax (8) easily (8) heading (6)January (7) spelling (7) east (7) holding (7)freight (8) furious (8) eighty (6) hunters (6)joined (7) stock (5) guilty (8) immediately (7)learning (7) tame (7) engines (7) fantastic (8)


Words 2001 – 2100

jaws (7) provincial (7) block (6) lines (7)lack (7) quick (6) brakes (6) list (8)leading (6) fir (8) broom (6) lock (6)library (7) raced (7) bubble (7) market (8)lions (7) ranger (6) bumped (5) operating (8)loaded (5) reasons (8) fireplace (8) material (7)medical (7) robbed (7) calls (6) meadow (5)Mexico (5) saucer (6) carpet (6) museum (8)murder (7) seats (7) favor (8) neighbor (6)nap (7) seventh (6) extremely (8) packing (5)naughty (7) shoots (6) drinks (7) reply(s)neighbors (7) skates (6) fields (6) penny (7)nicest (7) slide (5) fill (6) pension (8)nickel (6) spoke (7) flag (7) pirate (6)noises (7) streets (7) fuel (7) plans (6)notice (5) toes (7) glove (6) poems (7)nuts (7) toilet (8) grain (6) print (7)pasture (6) figured (8) graveyard (7) private (8)patrol (6) whatever (8) hamster (5) pure (7)paws (5) worse (7) hung (6) receive (6)plain (6) actually (7) ideas (7) relatives (7)p.m. (6) add (7) keeping (7) seeds (8)pointed (7) allow (7) killer (7) selling (7)press (7) bathing (8) lakes (6) series (6)program (7) berries (7) sunshine (8) autumn (7)


Words 2101 – 2200

shelf (7) Nova Scotia (7) ends (7) maple (5)shouldn’t (6) Atlantic (5) enemy (5) majority (8)simply (8) average (8) enter (7) motel (5)skiing (7) barrel (4) exactly (7) necessary (7)soap (7) basketball (7) decent (8) needs (7)split (7) believed (5) fathers (6) objects (5)spray (7) blossom (4) fawn (6) page (6)stamp (6) deserted (8) feathers (7) parade (7)straw (7) difference (8) female (7) pen (7)stripe (5) brave (7) fishes (6) concerned (8)tons (8) growth (8) fluffy (7) personnel (8)stuffed (4) bumped (5) fog (7) pulling (7)deliver (8) Prince Edward Island (5) gear (6) pensioners (8)supply (8) canyon (7) giraffe (7) rains (5)taste (7) careful (6) guide (6) remains (8)thrown (7) charge (7) result (8) rescue (7)tries (7) chirp (4) hearing (6) responsible (7)twenty-two (5) circle (7) industry (7) restaurants (8)describe (8) citizens (7) injured (7) ribbon (7)using (8) crime (7) lamp (7) rooster (8)weird (6) danger (7) lessons (7) rubber (7)yards (6) December (7) sixth (8) safety (7)you’ve (7) destroyed (7) listened (7) signed (8)afford (7) dust (7) luckily (6) skip (6)agreed (6) elf (7) machines (8) society (7)


Words 2201 – 2300

Spain (7) bombs (5) created (8) Pacific (8)speak (8) bothers (8) forced (7) points (7)steal (7) buttons (4) gifts (7) pow (6)tanks (4) California (7) girlfriend (8) produced (8)clearly (8) cannon (5) handle (7) prove (7)tears (8) capital (7) he’d (6) punishment (8)tenth (5) carrying (7) classes (8) refused (8)teaches (8) centre (7) hoping (7) reported (8)ton (7) coast (7) jokes (7) research (8)tongue (7) professional (8) daily (8) restaurant (7)transportation (7) collars (6) pregnant (8) roads (7)unknown (7) college (8) smelling (8) Russia (8)we’d (6) continue (7) lane (7) sail (6)we’ve (8) corn (7) leaped (7) sailing (6)wedding (6) confusion (8) lifted (7) daughters (8)dolphin (8) ditch (7) lizards (5) seasons (6)scratched (8) earn (7) lobster (8) servants (8)wrecked (7) earned (7) medicine (7) shadow (7)adventures (5) elevator (6) mistake (7) shotgun (8)alley (7) expect (7) mixed (7) shoulder (8)ambulance (6) fainted (7) nervous (7) showers (8)barked (7) families (7) noon (7) shown (8)beam (5) fans (7) ordered (7) signal (8)beer (8) February (6) ouch (6) towers (8)blond (7) Cuba (8) mine (7) unemployment (8)


Words 2301 – 2400

she’d (8) desks (7) forgotten (7) larger (8)camera (8) colored (7) formula (6) opinion (7)powers (7) blowing (7) reform (8) pat (7)signs (8) absolutely (8) similar (8) peace (8)skate (6) bowling (5) final (7) penalty (8)smallest (7) branch (7) hidden (7) perfect (7)social (8) cape (7) sex (8) llama (8)spanked (7) refuse (7) hoped (6) pin (7)spending (8) Chicago (8) excitement (7) muscles (8)ceiling (8) chop (7) keeper (7) post (7)stamps (6) apparently (8) kisses (7) prairie (8)cheques (8) chores (7) Los Angeles (7) permit (8)startled (7) astronaut (8) letting (7) provide (7)riders (7) avalanche (8) spaceships (8) province (8)tulip (5) cricket (4) senior (8) puppet (7)university (8) bacon (8) mermaid (6) popular (8)volcano (6) delicious (6) stewardess (8) rained (7)western (8) double (6) minister (8) records (7)younger (8) blame (8) mischief (7) roar (7)Africa (7) drugs (8) mix (7) potential (8)agree (7) dump (7) required (8) rotten (7)ape (6) floated (6) navy (7) search (7)available (7) folks (7) sweater (8) shack (7)band (5) foods (8) nuclear (8) sheets (7)banks (7) boulder (8) oak (7) precious (8)


Words 2401 – 2500

poured (7) billion (6) fixing (8) mood (7)sleigh (7) bird’s (4) expensive (8) exist (8)smile (6) Egyptian (7) fallen (7) needle (7)smiled (7) blown (7) flashing (8) ninth (7)speaking (7) brick (7) finds (5) offer (8)spell (7) harm (8) competition (7) ordinary (7)spilled (5) cause (7) foreign (8) facilities (8)staring (7) caused (7) fool (7) factories (8)steak (7) caves (7) funds (8) failed (8)suffer (8) hurricanes (8) matches (7) parking (8)suppose (7) cheer (7) grounds (6) particular (8)therefore (7) chew (7) hairy (6) particularly (7)they’d (5) illegal (8) happening (6) parties (8)throat (7) collect (8) horseback (7) peanut (6)toast (6) collision (6) gain (8) picnics (7)tortoise (6) comb (7) inflation (7) policemen (5)knowledge (8) complete (8) gigantic (8) feather (8)mosquito (7) counter (8) itself (7) programs (8)usual (8) court (8) judge (8) feelings (8)waters (8) invention (8) handsome (8) rangers (7)wave (7) cupboard (4) knowing (7) rice (5)accept (8) item (8) license (8) rocking (8)appeared (7) difficult (7) lower (8) fierce (8)automobile (6) distance (8) mathematics (8) scene (8)bench (6) drivers (7) message (8) films (8)


Words 2501 – 2600

shines (7) unions (8) separate (8) readers (8)silently (7) vehicles (8) crab (6) recognized (8)causing (8) Victoria (8) crayons (5) Fredericton (8)charges (8) Winnipeg (7) credit (7) genie (5)chewing (8) wishing (6) criminal (8) glue (5)children’s (8) written (8) crooked (5) register (8)civil (8) villain (8) sliding (8) grave (6)command (8) wandered (8) curious (8) repair (8)complain (8) wilderness (8) curl (5) guitar (8)controlled (8) accidents (8) curly (5) results (8)crossed (8) wine (8) solar (8) hamburgers (8)current (8) Arctic (5) demand (7) hammer (8)tan (7) arrive (8) den (7) retired (8)thirty-two (7) backwards (7) soldiers (8) hats (6)throughout (8) you d(8) directions (7) ridiculous (8)tigers (6) begins (7) stations (8) hits (7)defeated (8) announced (8) drawer (8) individual (7)toad (5) balloon (8) sword (8) rising (8)tow (6) brand (7) electric (6) invented (7)dies (8) basic (8) energy (7) roaring (8)twenty-one (7) advertising (8) explained (6) route (8)enormous (8) commission (8) twelfth (8) junk (8)environment (8) content (7) false (8) salaries (8)vegetables (7) beaches (8) unconscious (8) lately (8)excellent (8) breathe (8) farmers (8) Saskatoon (8)


Words 2601 – 2700

individuals (8) religion (8) valuable (8) activities (8)losing (7) resources (7) agencies (8) adults (7)matches (7) corporations (8) summertime (8) ancient (8)intelligence (8) council (8) supplies (8) remain (8)issue (8) desire (8) value (8) require (8)assistance (8) rolling (6) tadpoles (5) bait (6)mosquitoes (6) safely (7) violent (8) beast (7)mainly (8) sailboat (6) wealthy (8) becoming (8)Norway (8) sergeant (6) wharf (8) responsibility (8)pleasant (8) directly (8) accepted (8) satellite (8)plumbers (8) frustrating (8) allowance (8) Bible (8)pouring (8) ski (7) aside (8) brains (8)peaceful (8) fussy (8) babysitter (8) soul (8)percent (8) slid (7) unfortunately (8) strongly (8)prevent (8) smash (6) useful (8) buzzing (7)printed (8) granted (8) various (8) suggest (8)promised (8) sneaky (5) channel (8) supermarket (8)playoffs (7) softly (7) wage (7) temperature (8)politicians (7) speaker (7) wages (8) Thanksgiving (8)purchased (8) gripe (8) washing (8) towel (8)purpose (8) squid (7) complaints (8) union (8)radar (8) stands (6) wears (8) code (6)Quebec (7) immigrants (8) weighed (7) coffin (7)quietly (6) include (8) within (8) complaining (8)rattlesnake (8) increased (8) wooden (8) covers (6)


Words 2701 – 2800

craft (6) gods (6) officers (8) salary (7)degrees (8) gorilla (6) patch (7) salmon (8)dentist (8) natural (8) horror (8) evidence (8)destroy (7) obviously (8) planning exercises (8)detective (8) hitting (6) pleasure scorpion (6)prey (8) ho (6) forces (8) searched (7)minimum (8) organizations (8) pressure (8) exhaust (8)doghouse (5) interest (8) project (7) settled (8)profession (8) iron (7) promise (7) expending (8)drip (7) parent (8) laboratory (8) shine (6)profits (8) juicy (7) provinces (8) fashioned (8)radios (8) performance (8) materials (8) firing (8)eater (5) lettuce (8) medium (8) showing (7)eighth (7) lined (7) puzzled (6) frustrated (8)employee (7) liquor (8) rate (8) silent (7)enemies (8) litter (8) mentioned (8) funeral (8)Europe (8) permission (8) recently (8) gentlemen (8)exhibition (6) marshmallows (8) rent (8) golf (8)expense (7) mention (8) respect (8) guessed (8)explosion (7) mission (7) rocky (7) guides (8)fault (8) nearby (7) metric (8) starving (8)flames (7) newspapers (8) royal (7) habit (8)reasonable (8) October (8) rules (8) storms (7)recent (8) ore (6) rush (7) competition (7)reduced (8) personality (8) mining (8) surface (8)


Words 2801 – 2900

customs (8) century (8) cruel (8) breaking (8)

tablecloth (5) championship(8) crushed (7) biscuits (8)

terror (7) choices (8) cuddly (8) gloves (7)thirty-five (7) complained (8) dairy (7) bilingual (8)tight (7) collection (8) cancer (8) goldfish (6)title (6) bullets (8) damage (8) grant (8)deciding (8) bunnies (6) damaged (8) grocery (8)deduction (8) burglar (8) defence (7) beings (8)trails (6) burst (8) career (8) hell (8)disappointed (8) buzz (4) drew (7) herd (8)disaster (8) cages (7) eaters (5) based (8)discrimination (8) constantly (8) Egypt (7) holy (7)dislike (8) crawling (8) entire (8) hooked (8)doctor’s (8) candles (5) escaped (7) ignored (8)weak (7) cement (8) Eskimos (7) imagination (8)doubt (8) changes (8) event (7) aware (8)eastern (8) Chinese (8) experiment (6) inventions (7)announcer (5) collected (8) express (8) involved (8)appear (8) community (8) careless (8) Japan (6)educational (8) condition (8) fifty-five (7) jewellery (8)elderly (8) consider (8) finals (7) atmosphere (8)authorities (7) consumer (7) carnival (8) kindergarten (8)employer (8) controls (8) float (7) king’s (8)simple (7) crawl (7) fooled (6) Labrador (6)everybody’s (8) customers (8) gift (7) legislation (7)


Words 2901 – 3000

level (7) percentage (7) salad (8) stopping (7)listening (8) physical (8) sending (7) occasional (8)solution (8) method (8) serious (7) survive (8)loan (8) pipe (8) acreage (8) suspect (8)lobsters (6) pit (7) settle (8) organization (8)loft (7) officials (8) advertised (8) payment (8)major (8) original (8) apply (8) polluting (8)terms (8) powerful (7) articles (8) thread (8)mild (7) prettiest (8) association (8) tide (7)wasted (8) properly (8) constructive (8) responsibilities (8)wrist (8) printing (8) contribute (8) treatment (8)writers (8) process (8) correct (8) truly (8)zipper (8) produce (7) slam (7) traffic (8)octopus (7) protection (8) despite (8) treehouse (7)offered (7) quality (8) smokers (8) alternative (8)accomplished (8) railway (8) developed (8) conductors (8)advantage (8) raised (8) effects (8) containers (8)agency (8) rates (7) solve (8) T.V. (6)Alaska (8) referee (7) spruce (7) contribution (8)annoyed (8) entitled (8) spy (6) definitely (8)parliament (8) fee (8) elected (8) errors (8)passenger (8) firm (8) eliminate (8) established (8)penalties (8) forcing (8) enclosed (8) generation (8)anger (8) generally (8) employees (8) handling (8)arena (8) limited (8) views (8) obvious (8)


A Further Look At Problem Words

Certain words of high-utility in the English language continue to be verytroublesome when it comes to spelling. Identifying such words and givingthem special attention when necessary is an essential aspect of thespelling curriculum. One means of identifying these special words is toexamine actual compositions and note the frequency with which thesewords are misspelled. The compositions in the Alberta study were analyzedfor frequency of error on a grade-by-grade basis.

Spelling errors were tabulated manually and the frequency was determinedby the number of students who misspelled the same word. It should benoted that the following graded word lists have been determined on thebasis of errors that occurred when children were free to choose their ownvocabulary. It does mean, of course, that children could avoid writingcertain words rather than spell them incorrectly On the other hand, thisprocedure avoids the use of dictated tests that require children to write apredetermined list of words.

The following lists of twenty-five words each are presented on a grade-by-grade basis to indicate the tremendous overlap in frequently misspelledwords that occurs from grade to grade. This should be an indication toteachers that the mastery of certain spelling words cannot be taken forgranted even though such words have been introduced, studied, and testedin a previous grade or grades.


25 Words Most Frequently MisspelledIn Each of the Elementary Grades

Grade 1 Grade2 Grade3 Grade4 Grade5 Grade6

too too too their too theirthey because because through that’s tooto upon friend because until that’sfriend they that’s friend there friendgoes wheels through too lot it’sbecause about there an you’re lotlittle again upon off silver theresaid didn’t went that’s beautiful ourraw holiday where they it’s beautifulteacher said finally there friend grabbedwas scared wait heard chief heardnice that’s am know again outsidelike to first finally holiday thenthere ghost it’s again horror theyhave good-bye another course off you’rewhen morning clothes then quite finallywants our know went received pollutionI people said caught they startedat dead their told stubborn peoplesometime many were think started supperwent nobody baseball were scream throughwould summer beautiful everyone listened where

after their favorite favorite experience morning

then there ghost first cute wereof would hockey had beauty when

Words in each list are presented in descending order of frequency.


In order to obtain a broader perspective concerning words that are most frequently misspelled, arandom sample of 3540 compositions was selected from the Canadian study. Thesecompositions represented adult writing as well as writing samples from grades 2, 4, and 6. Thisentire sample of 3540 compositions was analyzed for the frequency of spelling errors withoutreference to the level at which they were made. In this regard, the 200 most frequently misspelledwords are presented in alphabetical order.

200 Words Most Frequently Misspelled

about before coming exciting heard *accident began could family hereactually behind couldn’t fell himafraid believe cousins few hisagain better decided field holeall bird didn’t * finally homealmost birthday different finished horsesalways brought doctor fired hospitaland built does first houseanimals buys doesn’t flowers I’manother* bye dollars for Indiansare came don’t found into *around can’t engine funny itsaway caught equipment friend * it’s *awhile catch especially girls justback certainly ever going knewbear chases every government know *beautiful * children everybody happened let’s *because * climbed everyday happily likebeen come everything having lived

* The 25 words most frequently misspelled.


looked others right strange tomet our * said * summer toomiddle out saw surely triedmight outside scared surprise turnedminute parents school swimming twomonths parliament screamed take untilmountains people second than upon *myself picked shoot that’s * verynames pictures shot the wantednecessary piece situation their * wasn’tneighbor place slept them went*next pollution so then we’reno practicing society there * were *nothing pretty some there’s weren’tnow probably something * they * what’so’clock quiet sometimes they’re when *off * quite spotted things where *once really started thought withoutone receive stepped threw wouldn’topportunity responsible stopped throw writing

3000 Words Written Most Frequently - WOU...

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