Making the cut: "trim" vs. "shorten"

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 21/02/2025, 03:03

English.me team member

Trim and shorten. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both "trim" and "shorten" involve reducing the length, size, or extent of something. They can both be used to describe making something less long or cutting away parts to achieve a desired size.

What is different?

"Trim" often implies making precise cuts to tidy or neaten something, such as removing excess or unwanted parts, and is commonly used in the context of grooming or shaping (e.g., hair, hedges). "Shorten" is a more general term that means reducing the length or duration of something and can apply to tangible objects as well as abstract concepts like time or distance.

Which one is more common?

Examples of usage

Trim

She decided to trim her bangs before the party.
He trimmed the bushes to keep the garden neat.
The carpenter trimmed the door to make it fit the frame.
Please trim any unnecessary words from your essay.

Shorten

They had to shorten their trip due to bad weather.
She shortened the skirt for a better fit.
The new software will shorten the processing time significantly.
Adding a bridge can shorten the route across the river.