Meaning & use
contact points
Last updated
“contact points” is a form of “contact point”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
More than one person or place that people can go to for information, help, or a service.
Grammar: Plural noun; use a plural verb, as in "The contact points are listed below."
Patterns
- contact points for something
- list the contact points
- several contact points
The guide lists contact points for each regional office.
We have contact points in every major city.
Students can use several contact points if they need advice.
nounpluraltechnical
The exact spots where two or more things touch, especially in machines or electrical devices.
Grammar: Plural; often used in technical instructions about parts that meet.
Patterns
- the contact points between A and B
- clean the contact points
- check the contact points
Check the contact points between the battery and the charger.
Dirt on the contact points can stop the device from working.
The engineer marked all the contact points on the diagram.
Word forms
| singular | contact point |
|---|
Common combinations
- list of contact points
- The final page contains a list of contact points for parents.
- contact points for
- Here are the contact points for each department.
- clean the contact points
- Clean the contact points before you put in a new battery.
- multiple contact points
- The system uses multiple contact points to send alerts.
Synonyms and how they differ
- contacts
- More general and often means people you know; contact points usually means official places or roles for getting help.
Word family
- contact point noun
- one person or place to go to for help, or one touching spot
- contact noun
- communication with someone, or a person you know
Commonly confused: contact points or contact point?
contact points vs contact point
Use the singular for one place or spot and the plural for more than one: "one contact point" but "three contact points".
Practice
The manual shows all the ______ where the wires touch the metal plate.
Choose one answer.
"All the" signals a plural noun, so "contact points" is correct. "Contact point" is singular and does not agree with "all the"; "contacting points" and "point contacts" are not standard terms here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “contact points”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.