What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
contracted
Example
Can't is a contracted form of cannot. [contracted: adjective]
Example
The muscle in his arm contracted as he lifted the weight. [contracted: verb]
Example
The company contracted with a new supplier for their raw materials. [contracted: verb]
reduced
Example
The recipe calls for reduced fat milk. [reduced: adjective]
Example
The store reduced the price of the shirt by 50%. [reduced: verb]
Example
The teacher gave us a reduced version of the assignment to complete over the weekend. [reduced: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Reduced is more commonly used than contracted in everyday language. Reduced is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while contracted is more technical and specific to language and grammar contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between contracted and reduced?
Both contracted and reduced can be used in formal and informal contexts, but contracted may be perceived as more technical or specialized due to its association with language and grammar.
