How Do You Abbreviate Continued: Understanding Cont. vs Cont’d Usage
Quick Answer
The two correct short forms of “continued” are cont. (with a period) and cont’d (with an apostrophe). Use cont. in formal writing. Use cont’d in casual writing. Always use the same one in your whole document.
Cont. and Cont’d — See the Difference
Look at these examples. The short forms are in blue:
- The list is cont. on page 5. (abbreviation — the word is cut short and a period is added)
- See the table, cont’d on the next page. (contraction — letters are removed and an apostrophe is added)
- This report is cont. in section 3. (formal style)
- The interview, cont’d after the break. (casual style)
Did you see the pattern? Both mean “continued,” but they look different and work in different situations.
| Short Form | Type | How It Works | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| cont. | Abbreviation | Cut the word short, add a period | Formal writing, reports, documents |
| cont’d | Contraction | Remove middle letters, add an apostrophe | Casual writing, notes, screenplays |
When to Use Cont. and When to Use Cont’d
Both forms are correct. The one you choose depends on how formal your writing is.
Use cont. when:
- You are writing a formal report, a business document, or a school paper
- You want to follow the most standard style
- You are not sure which one to use — cont. is always the safe choice
Use cont’d when:
- You are writing a screenplay, a script, or informal notes
- Your style guide says to use contractions
- You are writing something casual or creative
Easy way to remember: If you would write “do not” instead of “don’t” in your text, use cont. If you would write “don’t,” you can use cont’d.
The most important rule? Pick one and use the same form in your whole document. Do not switch between cont. and cont’d on different pages.
The Rule in One Line: Cont. for formal, cont’d for casual — pick one and keep it the same.
How to Use Cont. and Cont’d in Everyday Writing
- The meeting notes are cont. on the next page. (you are telling the reader the notes keep going)
- Chapter 3, cont. — she opened the door slowly. (you are showing the chapter continues from before)
- Our discussion is cont’d below. (you are pointing the reader to keep reading)
- Table 2 (cont.) shows the rest of the data. (you are saying this table started on a previous page)
- SCENE 5 — CONT’D from the living room. (you are writing a screenplay where a scene continues)
You are doing great. Now let’s look at the mistakes many learners make.
Three Mistakes to Avoid When Abbreviating Continued
Even native English speakers sometimes write these short forms wrong — so if you have made one of these mistakes, you are not alone.
✗ contd — Wrong. Without the apostrophe, this is not a real word or contraction.
✓ cont’d — Correct. The apostrophe shows that letters were removed.
✗ con’t — Wrong. The apostrophe is in the wrong place.
✓ cont’d — Correct. The apostrophe goes after the “t” in cont’d.
✗ Page 2: cont. … Page 5: cont’d — Wrong. Do not mix both forms in the same document.
✓ Page 2: cont. … Page 5: cont. — Correct. Use the same form on every page.
How to remember: The apostrophe in cont’d does the same job as the apostrophe in “don’t” — it shows where letters are missing. No apostrophe? It is not a real contraction.
Test Yourself: Cont. or Cont’d?
Choose the correct answer for each question. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. Which is a correct short form of “continued”?
2. You are writing a formal business report. Which short form should you use?
3. You are writing a film screenplay. Which short form is most common?
4. You used “cont.” on page 2 of your essay. What should you use on page 5?
5. A friend wrote “con’t” in their notes. Is this correct?
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned how to abbreviate “continued” — and you will never write “contd” or “con’t” again. That is one more writing rule you can use with confidence.
But here is something interesting. The short form cont’d is actually a contraction — just like “don’t” or “isn’t.” But did you know there are over 100 contractions in English, and some of them are so common that most people do not even realise they are contractions?
Next lesson: What Are Contractions in Grammar: The Complete List You Need to Know
My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.
