What is clipping words? Types of clipped words with examples

In this article we are going to discuss about clipping words and I’m sure you’ll be wondering what is clipping words? and types of clipped words.

What is clipping words?

In the English language, clipping words is the process of reducing or shortening a word, keeping its original meaning.

Examples of clipped words:

Vet instead of veterinarian.
Van instead of caravan.

The shortening of words has always been a part of language evolution. Actually, English is full of clipped words and even though this technique started as a colloquial or informal process.

Some clipped words have become the standard and they are commonly used in formal situations because being shorter, clip words are easier to spell and pronounce and it is interesting to note that in some cases, the clipped form of a word is even more popular than the original word itself.

Types of clipped words:

There are five different types of clipped words. Let’s discuss one by one-

1. Front clipped words:

This is what happens when the front part of a word is clipped or removed and only the last part of the word remains.

Example of Front clipped words:

Telephone – Phone
If we take the first part of the word ‘tele’ and we clip it or remove it and maintain the last part of the word, then telephone turns into phone.

Motorbike – Bike
If we clip the front part of the word motor, and we retain the last part of the word, then Motorbike turns into bike.
Hamburger – Burger
If we remove the first part of the word ham, and we retain the last part of the word, then hamburger turns into burger.

2. Back clipped words:

As you can imagine, this time it is the back part of a word, the one that is clipped or removed, and only the front part of a word is retained.

Example of a back clipped word:

Gasoline – Gas
If we clip or remove the last part of the word ‘oline’, and maintain the first part, then gasoline turns into gas.
Examination – Exam
If we maintain the first part but we clip or remove the last part, then examination turns into exam.
Gymnasium – Gym
If we remove the last part of the word, and we keep or maintain the front, then gymnasium turns into gym.

3. Middle clipped words:

This time the front as well as the back parts of a word are clipped or removed, and only the middle part of a word remains.

Example of middle clipped words:

Refrigerator – Frige
Here the first part and the last part of the word are clipped, and only the middle part of the word stays. So refrigerator turns into fridge.
Detective – Tec
In this example first part and the last part of the word are clipped, and only the middle part of the word stays. So Detective turns into Tec.

Influenza – Flu
Here again, the front part and the back part of the word are removed and only the center stays. So influenza is turns into flu.

4. Complex clipped words:

When we have a compound word, which is two words creating one concept, we sometimes shorten it by taking one part from each word, creating the compound.

Examples of complex clipped words:

Situation comedy – Sitcom.
This long compound can be shortened by clipping a part from the first word and a part from the second. So situation comedy turns into sitcom.

Foreign exchange – Forex.
Very commonly we use this concept in a clipped version, which is a part from the first word and a part from the second word, then Foreign exchange turns into Forex.
Science Fiction – Sci-Fi.
How can we clip it getting a part from the first word, a part from the second, and turning it into Sci-Fi.

5. Blending words

When parts from two different words this term is not a compound this term is two different individual words, but part from these two words are combined or blended, creating an entirely new concept.

Examples of Blending words:

Breakfast and Lunch – Brunch
We’ve created a new concept considering these two words. We skipped them, blended them, and now we have the concept of Brunch.
Smoke and Fog – Smog
Again, we get two concepts, we clip them and blended them into a new concept Smog.
Web and Seminar – Webiner
Well, that is a new concept in education today, and this is a webinar.

Identify clipped words:

I’ll take a plane to go to Alan Walker concert.
I’m a big fan of Cristiano Ronaldo.
If you have fever you should consult with your doc.

I want to buy a new phone.
We usually have brunch at near my house.
I have an important exam.

Answer:

1. Plane – Aeroplane, 2. Fan – Fanatic, 3. Doc – Doctor, 4. Phone – Telephone, 5. Brunch – Breakfast and Lunch, 6. Exam – Examination.

So today’s article about what is clipping words? and types of clipped words. I hope you understand, if you have any doubt or question about clipped word you can comment below.

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