Word-by-Word matching

Word-by-Word Matching

Word-by-word matching is the ability to match words printed on a page to spoken words. This concept applies to both reading and writing tasks as children gradually learn to relate spoken words to written words.

Word-by-word matching is not the same as recognizing words on sight. Sight-word recognition is the ability to see a word and know automatically what the word is.

Children who perform word-by-word matching while writing, create (through either invented or conventional spelling) complete messages on paper with proper spacing between words. The child understands that what is spoken also can be written down. This matching emerges gradually, and the child's control often fluctuates.