What letters are used most frequently in English?

The most frequently used letter in the English language is E has 12.49% of the total. This is followed by T (9.28%) and a (8.4%).

Why these letters?

• The gold (E) and bronze (A) medals are perhaps predictable. Every standard English word has a vowel - only 'psst' appears in the OED and 'psst' would not be in most lists of standard words!
• It is more surprising to see T up there on the winners rostrum. 
  
• E is the champion in other languages, too. George Perec famously wrote a detective novel in French without it  La Disparition (1969). This was then translated into English by Gilbert Adair as A Void.

More on this topic here.