preface
/ˈpɹɛfəs/
"preface" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“preface” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #17,448 in English word frequency and used as a noun.
- #17,448
- frequency rank, English
- 7
- letters
- 10
- tracked misspellings
- 8
- confusable pairs
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A beginning or introductory portion that comes before the main text of a document or book, typically serving to contextualize or explain the writing of the book and sometimes to acknowledge others'...
Visual similarity to commonly confused words
How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).
Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | preface |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈpɹɛfəs/ |
| Letters | 7 |
| Frequency rank | #17,448 |
| Misspellings tracked | 10 |
| Confusable pairs | 8 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “preface” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for preface is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpɹɛfəs/. Corpus data places it at rank #17,448 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for preface, with forms such as "perface", "ppreface", and "preafce". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 8 confusable-pair relationships, "prepare", "prefect", "profane", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.
Etymologically, the entry records: Late 14th century, from Middle English preface, prefas, from Old French preface (from which derives the modern French préface), from Medieval Latin prefātia, for classical Latin praefātiō (“a saying beforehand”), from praefor (“to speak beforehand”), from p… The correct English form is preface, spelled P-R-E-F-A-C-E.
Definition
- 1A beginning or introductory portion that comes before the main text of a document or book, typically serving to contextualize or explain the writing of the book and sometimes to acknowledge others' contributions; especially, such a discussion written by the work's own author.
- 2An introduction, or series of preliminary remarks.
- 3A variable prayer forming the prelude or introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer or canon of the Mass, following the Sursum corda dialogue and leading into the Sanctus.
- 4A title or epithet.
Etymology
Late 14th century, from Middle English preface, prefas, from Old French preface (from which derives the modern French préface), from Medieval Latin prefātia, for classical Latin praefātiō (“a saying beforehand”), from praefor (“to speak beforehand”), from prae- (“beforehand”) + for (“to speak”).
This word in other languages
Common misspellings
Also misspelled as: perface,ppreface,preafce,prefacce,prefaec,prefcae,prefface,prfeace,prreface,rpeface
Misspelling Pattern Breakdown
How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of preface - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you spell "preface"?
What does "preface" mean?
What words are commonly confused with "preface"?
How do you pronounce "preface"?
What is the origin of the word "preface"?
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Using “preface”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is P-R-E-F-A-C-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈpɹɛfəs/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Don't mix it up with “prepare” - see the side-by-side comparison. preface vs prepare
- 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.