Abbreviation vs. Contraction — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 26, 2024
Abbreviations shorten words or phrases, while contractions combine words by omitting letters and using an apostrophe.
Difference Between Abbreviation and Contraction
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase, used to save space and time. Contractions, on the other hand, are a specific type of abbreviation found mainly in the English language, where two words are combined into one by omitting certain letters and often replacing them with an apostrophe.
Abbreviations are versatile and are used in various contexts, from formal academic writing to casual communication. Contractions are used to make speech or writing more fluid and are common in informal language.
Abbreviations are broader in scope and application, encompassing various forms of shortening words and phrases beyond the merging of two words. Contractions specifically address the need for conciseness and fluidity in spoken English and informal writing.
While abbreviations can be used in both written and spoken language, they are particularly useful in written forms where space and clarity are at a premium, such as in academic papers, business documents, and technical manuals. Contractions, by their very nature, are designed to mimic spoken language within written text, offering a bridge between the formalities of written English and the informalities of speech.
Comparison Chart
Definition
A shortened form of a word or phrase.
Two words combined into one by omitting letters.
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Example
Dr. (Doctor), Inc. (Incorporated)
Can't (cannot), it's (it is)
Usage Context
Formal and informal writing, technical documents.
Informal writing, conversational speech.
Presence of Apostrophe
Rarely involves apostrophes.
Always involves an apostrophe.
Purpose
To save space and time, clarify.
To mimic spoken language, improve flow.
Compare with Definitions
Abbreviation
A shortened form of a word or phrase.
Dr. for Doctor.
Contraction
Utilizes an apostrophe to indicate omitted letters.
You're for you are.
Abbreviation
Truncated forms of common words.
App for application.
Contraction
Reflects natural patterns of spoken English.
He'll for he will.
Abbreviation
Shortened forms of technical or scientific terms.
Mg for milligram.
Contraction
Combination of two words into one by omitting letters.
Don't for do not.
Abbreviation
Abbreviations using symbols.
$ for dollars.
Contraction
Often used in informal language and speech.
I'm for I am.
Abbreviation
Initials representing words in phrases.
NATO for North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Contraction
Makes written language more conversational.
We've for we have.
Abbreviation
An abbreviation (from Latin brevis, meaning short) is a shortened form of a word or phrase, by any method. It may consist of a group of letters or words taken from the full version of the word or phrase; for example, the word abbreviation can itself be represented by the abbreviation abbr., abbrv., or abbrev.; NPO, for nil (or nothing) per (by) os (mouth) is an abbreviated medical instruction.
Contraction
The act of contracting or the state of being contracted.
Abbreviation
The act or product of shortening.
Contraction
A word, as won't from will not, or phrase, as o'clock from of the clock, formed by omitting or combining some of the sounds of a longer phrase.
Abbreviation
A shortened form of a word or phrase used chiefly in writing to represent the complete form, such as Mass. for Massachusetts or USMC for United States Marine Corps.
Contraction
The formation of such a word.
Abbreviation
The result of shortening or reducing; abridgment.
Contraction
(Physiology) The shortening and thickening of functioning muscle or muscle fiber.
Abbreviation
(linguistics) A shortened or contracted form of a word or phrase, used to represent the whole, utilizing omission of letters, and sometimes substitution of letters, or duplication of initial letters to signify plurality, including signs such as +, =, @.
Hants is an abbreviation of Hampshire.
Contraction
Any of a series of sudden and involuntary tightenings of the uterine muscles occurring before or during childbirth.
Abbreviation
The process of abbreviating.
Contraction
A period of decreased business activity.
Abbreviation
(music) A notation used in music score to denote a direction, as pp or mf.
Contraction
A reversible reduction in size.
Abbreviation
(music) One or more dashes through the stem of a note, dividing it respectively into quavers, semiquavers, demisemiquavers, or hemidemisemiquavers.
Contraction
(economics) A period of economic decline or negative growth.
The country's economic contraction was caused by high oil prices.
Abbreviation
Any convenient short form used as a substitution for an understood or inferred whole.
Contraction
A shortening of a muscle during its use.
Abbreviation
(biology) Loss during evolution of the final stages of the ancestral ontogenetic pattern.
Contraction
A strong and often painful shortening of the uterine muscles prior to or during childbirth.
Abbreviation
(mathematics) Reduction to lower terms, as a fraction.
Contraction
(linguistics) A process whereby one or more sounds of a free morpheme (a word) are lost or reduced, such that it becomes a bound morpheme (a clitic) that attaches phonologically to an adjacent word.
In English, didn't, that's, and wanna, the endings -n't, -'s, and -a arose by contraction.
Abbreviation
The act of shortening, or reducing.
Contraction
(English orthography) A word with omitted letters replaced by an apostrophe, usually resulting from the above process.
Don't is a contraction of do not; and 'til is a contraction of until.
Abbreviation
The result of abbreviating; an abridgment.
Contraction
A shorthand symbol indicating an omission for the purpose of brevity.
Abbreviation
The form to which a word or phrase is reduced by contraction and omission; a letter or letters, standing for a word or phrase of which they are a part; as, Gen. for Genesis; U.S.A. for United States of America.
Contraction
The acquisition of something, generally negative.
Our contraction of debt in this quarter has reduced our ability to attract investors.
Abbreviation
One dash, or more, through the stem of a note, dividing it respectively into quavers, semiquavers, or demi-semiquavers.
Contraction
The process of contracting a disease.
The contraction of malaria
Abbreviation
A shortened form of a word or phrase
Contraction
(phonetics) Syncope, the loss of sounds from within a word.
Abbreviation
Shortening something by omitting parts of it
Contraction
A distinct stage of wound healing, wherein the wound edges are gradually pulled together.
Contraction
The act or process of contracting, shortening, or shrinking; the state of being contracted; as, contraction of the heart, of the pupil of the eye, or of a tendon; the contraction produced by cold.
Contraction
The process of shortening an operation.
Contraction
The act of incurring or becoming subject to, as liabilities, obligation, debts, etc.; the process of becoming subject to; as, the contraction of a disease.
Contraction
Something contracted or abbreviated, as a word or phrase; - as, plenipo for plenipotentiary; crim. con. for criminal conversation, etc.
Contraction
The shortening of a word, or of two words, by the omission of a letter or letters, or by reducing two or more vowels or syllables to one; as, ne'er for never; can't for can not; don't for do not; it's for it is.
Contraction
A marriage contract.
Contraction
(physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber)
Contraction
The process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together;
The contraction of a gas on cooling
Contraction
A word formed from two or more words by omitting or combining some sounds;
`won't' is a contraction of `will not'
`o'clock' is a contraction of `of the clock'
Contraction
The act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope
Common Curiosities
How do contractions differ from abbreviations?
Contractions specifically combine two words into one by omitting letters and including an apostrophe, primarily in informal contexts.
Can abbreviations include numbers?
Yes, abbreviations can include numbers, especially in dates or measurements (e.g., Jan. for January, 3rd for third).
Are abbreviations universally understood?
While many abbreviations are widely recognized, some may be specific to certain fields or regions and not universally understood.
Are all shortened forms of words considered abbreviations?
Yes, most shortened forms of words can be considered abbreviations, but the method and context of their use can vary widely.
What defines an abbreviation?
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase used to save space or time in writing.
Can abbreviations be used in formal writing?
Some abbreviations are acceptable in formal writing, especially when they represent organizations, titles, or are well-recognized forms.
Why might someone choose to use or avoid contractions?
The choice to use or avoid contractions depends on the desired tone of the writing; they're used for a casual tone and avoided in formal writing.
Why are contractions less formal?
Contractions mimic spoken language, making them less formal and more suitable for conversational or informal writing.
Do contractions always use an apostrophe?
Yes, contractions always use an apostrophe to indicate where letters have been omitted.
How do contractions affect the readability of text?
Contractions can make text more readable by making it closer to spoken language, thus more accessible and engaging for readers.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
