The Power of Decodability: Expanding Access Without Limiting Text

If you've ever watched a beginning reader struggle through an unfamiliar word, you've witnessed the importance of decodability firsthand. Decodable words are those a reader can sound out using phonics rules—letter-sound correspondences they’ve already learned. But here’s the problem: only 38% of the 1,000 most common words in English are strictly phonetic. The rest? They either follow complex phonics rules or are exceptions altogether.

At Readable English, we believe every word should be accessible—without compromising vocabulary richness or sentence complexity. That’s why we’ve transformed English into a fully decodable system.

Download the The Power of Decodability Infographic as PDF.

What is a Decodable Word? 

A decodable word is one that a beginning reader can sound out using phonics knowledge. Words like “snap” or “test” follow simple letter-sound rules. Others, like “straight” or “vague,” become decodable as more advanced phonics rules are taught—usually by third grade.

What Makes a Book Decodable?

Decodable books contain only the phonics patterns a student has already been taught. These books are crucial in early reading because they:

• Build confidence and motivation

• Reinforce grapheme–phoneme correspondences

• Reduce cognitive load to develop fluency

How Decodable is English? 

A breakdown of the 1,000 most common English words reveals:

• 38% (380 words) are phonetic

• 35% (350 words) follow one of 45 phonics rules

• 27% (270 words) are exceptions that must be memorized 

This means that without support, nearly two-thirds of common words require advanced phonics instruction or memorization—putting many students at a disadvantage.

Enter: Readable English

What if every word could be decodable—without dumbing down the text?

Readable English makes this possible by adding visual cues:

• Grayed-out letters for silent characters

• Glyphs that indicate alternate letter sounds 

• Syllable breaks that aid fluency

Take the word technique: It’s tricky for most young readers. But with Readable English, the phonetic cues make it accessible—right now.

Why This Matters

Decodable texts are powerful, but traditionally limited. Students were often confined to basic books using only taught rules. This restricts exposure to rich vocabulary, complex grammar, and diverse sentence structures.

Readable English changes that.

Every word becomes decodable. This means students can engage with authentic, grade-level texts—developing comprehension, vocabulary, syntax, and fluency simultaneously.

Benefits of Full Decodability

• Faster decoding

• Improved fluency

• Reduced cognitive load

• Greater equity in literacy outcomes

Join the Literacy Revolution

We’re rethinking what’s possible for reading instruction. With Readable English, every student can access the full power of the English language—phonetically, confidently, independently.

Contact us to schedule a demo today!