computedvscomputersConfusable pair

Quick tell: computed is a verb, computers is a noun, so they fill different roles in a sentence.

Which to use

“computed” is a verb and “computers” is a noun - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.

#19,295
“computed” frequency rank
#4,070
“computers” frequency rank
23365
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature computed computers
Definition simple past and past participle of compute plural of computer

Where the eye mixes computed and computers

Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 7 letters in sequence.

8 ch
computed
9 ch
computers

Why the eye confuses computed with computers

These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: computed is /kəmˈpjuːtɪd/ while computers is /kəmˈpjuːtəz/. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they differ by 1 letter(s) in length, and the parts of speech differ too (verb vs noun), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 23365, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

computed is recorded at frequency rank #19,295, classified as averb, pronounced /kəmˈpjuːtɪd/. computers is at rank #4,070, tagged as anoun, pronounced /kəmˈpjuːtəz/.

Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.

With a confusion score of 23365, this pair ranks #409,822 of 530,003 scored English confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.

Orthographic DNA of computed vs computers

Shared letters: cemoptu. Private to "computed": d. Private to "computers": rs.

"computed" · 8 letters · shape CVCCVCVC  ·  "computers" · 9 letters · shape CVCCVCVCC

Known mistypes of this pair

  • computedccomputed · cmoputed · commputed · compputed · comptued · compuetd · computde · computedd
  • computersccomputers · cmoputers · commputers · compputers · comptuers · compuetrs · computerrs · computerss

Frequently Asked Questions

Is swapping "computed" for "computers" ever safe?
No - they are not even the same part of speech. "computed" is a verb and "computers" a noun, so a sentence built for one is usually ungrammatical with the other.
Which is more common, "computed" or "computers"?
"computers" is the more common of the two: it sits at frequency rank #4,070 in our English list, against #19,295 for "computed". The two are close in frequency, so neither is a safe default; check the meaning rather than guessing.

After this comparison

Eye-level mix-up between "computed" and "computers" is sorted above. Next: full entries or other pairs that share a letter shape.

  • Full dictionary entry for "computed" with definition, IPA, and generated misspellings. Word entry
  • Full dictionary entry for "computers" - compare definitions side by side with the headword page. Word entry
  • This pair ranks #409,822 of 530,003 scored English confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
  • "computed" and "computers" also get mixed up with nearby pairs, the highest-scored neighbour is "compacted vs computed". Nearby pair
  • Recorded mistypes exist for at least one side of this pair, useful when a spell-checker or OCR lands on the wrong form. See mistypes

Confusion rank #409,822 of 530,003 scored English pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list