1. A computer implemented method for semi-automated dialing, useful in association with a personal appliance having a display, a standard keyboard upon which some keys have both a numeric and alphabetic interpretation and a microprocessor capable of dialing an input sequence from either the alphabetic or numeric keys or a combination of both, the method for semi-automated dialing comprising: receiving an input from the keyboard, wherein the input includes a sequence of characters; determining if the received input has an alternate interpretation; displaying the received input along with any alternate interpretations on the display; receiving a selection from a user, wherein the selection is chosen from the displayed input and alternate interpretations; and dialing the selection.