A keyword list sorted fewest-words-first opens with the terms you are least likely to rank for. That is uncomfortable and useful.
Reading the top of the list
One- and two-word terms are where established brands and large budgets compete. If the top of the list is where all the volume sits, the market is dominated by head terms and a new entrant needs a long timeline or a different angle.
Setting expectations honestly
Showing a client this list early prevents the conversation where they ask, six months in, why the site is not ranking for the single most competitive term in their industry. It was visible from the start.
Where the realistic work is
Scroll past the top. The three-, four- and five-word terms are winnable in months rather than years, and collectively they frequently carry more total volume than the head terms everyone fixates on.
Try it: Sort by Word Count (Fewest First) on SeoWolf's Notepad.