Which term is the result of combining words, typically with an apostrophe, to form a shorter unit?

• A. Contraction
• B. Elision
• C. Fusion
• D. Ellipsis

Answer: (A)

Contractions are formed when two words are joined and letters are omitted, with an apostrophe taking the place of the missing letters. This creates a shorter unit that sounds natural in speech and writing. Examples include can't (cannot), I'm (I am), and it's (it is). The apostrophe signals that letters were left out, which is the defining feature of a contraction.

Elision is a broader term in linguistics for the omission of sounds in speech and isn’t always tied to a written apostrophe. Ellipsis refers to three dots used to show omitted material in text, not to a shortened word. Fusion isn’t the standard term used for this particular pattern. So the term that fits the description is contraction.