Hi;

Go here for the top 1200 most frequently used words in everyday English writing . Take the first 100 from the list and jot them down. These words are used in both formal and informal contexts.

Here's my list of the 20 most essential words in English (100 is too many for a bare bones vocabulary list, in my view):

1. Hi = hello, greetings
2. Bye = goodbye, farewell
3. I = pronoun meaning the person speaking
4. You = pronoun meaning the person you are speaking to
5. Girl = a female person
6. Man = a male person
7. Come = you're telling the li

AnonymousHere's my list of the 20 most essential words in English (100 is too many for a bare bones vocabulary list, in my view):

You forgot the essential polite words:
Please.
Thank you.

I'd like to point out that "girl" and "man" are not parallel in terms of use. "Girl" and "boy" refer to children and teenagers. "Woman" and "man" refer to adults. If you refer to a group of adults as "men and girls," you will certainly offend some of the women.

AlpheccaStarsYou forgot the essential polite words:Please.Thank you.

Out of curiosity, which two in the list would you remove in order to fit these in?

khoffI'd like to point out that "girl" and "man" are not parallel in terms of use.

As soon as I saw that in the list, I said to myself, "We're going to get e-mail on that! And it won't be from a boy!"

CalifJimOut of curiosity, which two in the list would you remove in order to fit these in? (please - 751; thank - 1015. Those are a long, long way from 20!)

Hi CJ:
The list of frequently used words in writing is different from those used in conversation. It also depends on the culture. In Japan, "please", "thank you" and "excuse me" are probably very close

khoff If you refer to a group of adults as "men and girls," you will certainly offend some of the women.

And if you refer to a group of adults as "boys and women," you would certainly offend some of the males.