Clipped Words-Love Or Not
The shortest form of longer words or the abbreviated versions of the words used in our daily lives are "clipped words". According the definition provided by DICTIONARY.COM clipped words are,
”A word formed by dropping one or more syllables from a longer word or phrase with no change in meaning”
In recent times, the use of clipped words has increased much. From our day to day conversation to even the formal usage of the language, the use of clipped words is greater than before. Words like “phone” instead of “telephone”, “gas” in place of “gasoline”, “bike” as an alternative to “bicycle” are very commonly used. In fact, the use of these words has increased so much that many people find it quite annoying while there is a large number of people who love to use clip the words.
The question that has always been raised is that whether the usage of clipped words helps or is it just the way of spoiling a language. Over the period of years, languages do evolve and develop. Clipped words are a part of that process. They bring freshness and creativity to the language. Obviously to pronounce or spell long words is quite a task so we can take clipped words as a much easier way to do that especially with regard to the daily conversations.
However the use of clipped words in formal language has not been appreciated much. Many writers and the English linguistics do not encourage the use of such words. For many the clipped words are like qualitative words that have been given a makeover. Therefore they do not support these words and have often advised to avoid its usage.
Despite the love and hate relationship of many with regard to the use of clipped words, one may not deny the fact that chopping a piece or two of a longer word makes it easier to use. Perhaps that is also the reason why we have seen the extensive application of clipped words over the period of years.
SOME COMMON CLIPPED WORDS:
Below are some very common instances of clipped words with their related longer forms,
Pro
Professional
Ad
Advertisement
Math
Mathematics
Stats
Statistics
Congrats
Congratulations
Pants
Pantaloons
Fridge
Refrigerator
Vet
Veterinarian
Zoo
Zoological gardens
Agreed or not it is hard to get through a day without clipped words. It won’t be wrong to say that they are a blessing in disguise for many as they have brought creativity, freshness and much ease to the language.
Do you think clipped words are good to use ?
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