personal computer
"personal-computer" is a 16-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“personal computer” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 17
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A computer for use by one person at a time (using a microprocessor).
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | personal computer |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| Letters | 17 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “personal computer” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for personal computer is 17 letters long, classified as a noun. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for personal computer, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.
Etymologically, the entry records: Often attributed to Stewart Brand (1974), but in use before (see quotations). The correct English form is personal computer, spelled P-E-R-S-O-N-A-L- -C-O-M-P-U-T-E-R.
Definition
- 1A computer for use by one person at a time (using a microprocessor).
- 2A computer for use by one person at a time (using a microprocessor).
- 3A computer for use by one person at a time (using a microprocessor).
Etymology
Often attributed to Stewart Brand (1974), but in use before (see quotations).
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “personal computer”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is P-E-R-S-O-N-A-L- -C-O-M-P-U-T-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.