What are sight words characterized by?

Sight words are characterized by being recognized immediately by readers, without the need for decoding or sounding them out. These words often include common vocabulary that appears frequently in texts, allowing readers to develop fluency and comprehension skills. When readers encounter these words instantly, they can focus more on understanding the overall meaning of the text rather than getting bogged down in the mechanics of reading.

While some sight words may also have irregular phonetic patterns and can enhance vocabulary, the defining characteristic of sight words is their ability to be recognized automatically, enabling smoother and faster reading. This automatic recognition is crucial for helping early readers build confidence and enjoy the reading experience without constantly halting to decode words.