The sight word "but"
Dolch Primer
"but" is one of the words your child will see on almost every page they read. The goal is instant recognition — no sounding out. Read it, say it, spell it out loud, then use it in a sentence.
but
Use it in a sentence
The but is in my book.
Spell it out loud
Four-step routine that works
- Show the word and read it aloud yourself — don't ask them to guess.
- Your child says "but" three times while looking at it.
- Spell it out loud: b–u–t.
- Read the sentence together, then hide the word and have them write it.
Common questions
Is "but" a sight word?
Yes. "but" appears on the standard Dolch and Fry high-frequency word lists, which means children meet it constantly in early books and should read it instantly rather than sounding it out.
How do you use "but" in a sentence?
The but is in my book.
How many letters are in "but"?
"but" has 3 letters: b, u, t.
How long does it take to learn the sight word "but"?
Most children can read a single sight word on sight after four to eight short exposures spread over a few days. Practise "but" for two minutes a day rather than twenty minutes once.
Practise "but" in the game
A real human voice reads the word, your child taps the match, and LQuest tracks which words are secure.
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