What are sight words primarily used for in reading?

Sight words are primarily used in reading to enhance fluency. These are commonly encountered words that students are encouraged to recognize instantly without needing to decode them phonetically each time they see them. The recognition of sight words allows learners to read more smoothly and quickly, as it reduces the cognitive load involved in processing each individual word.

Focusing on sight words helps develop a reader's confidence and comprehension skills, enabling them to concentrate on the meaning of the text rather than getting bogged down in individual word decoding. Identifying these words at a glance facilitates a more fluent reading experience and aids in building a rich vocabulary.

The other options, while related to aspects of reading and language development, do not capture the specific purpose of sight words. Words that can always be sounded out refer more to phonetically regular words, while words specifically related to phonics lessons focus on the understanding of letter-sound relationships. Words that contain multiple syllables may not even fall into the category of sight words, as many may be unfamiliar or phonically complex. Thus, the essence of sight words is their immediate recognition for fluent reading.