Meaning & use
CS
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Meanings
abbreviationuncountableinformal
Short for computer science, the study of computers, programming and how data is processed.
Grammar: Uncountable: she majors in CS.
Patterns
- major in CS
- a CS degree
My sister is studying CS at a technical university.
He has a CS degree and works as a software developer.
The CS department offers a course on algorithms.
abbreviationuncountablebusiness
Short for customer service, the team that helps customers with questions or complaints.
Grammar: Used in business, often in writing: contact CS.
Patterns
- contact CS
- CS team
I sent an email to CS about my late order.
The CS team replies within a day.
She works in CS at a phone company.
Common combinations
- CS degree
- A CS degree can lead to many careers.
- CS major
- He is a CS major in his second year.
- CS department
- The CS department has a new building.
- CS team
- The CS team handles complaints.
- CS course
- She took an introductory CS course.
Synonyms and how they differ
- computer science
- Computer science is the full term used in formal writing, while CS is the abbreviation used for speed.
- informatics
- Informatics is a European term that often includes information systems, so it is broader than CS.
- computing
- Computing is a wider, more general word that can include using computers and not only studying them.
Word family
- computer science noun
- the full phrase abbreviated as CS
- computational adjective
- relating to computing
- computer scientist noun
- a person who studies computer science
Commonly confused: CS or IT?
CS vs IT
IT usually means maintaining computer systems at work, while CS is the academic study of computing.
Practice
In 'She has a CS degree and writes software', CS most likely means ___.
Choose one answer.
A degree plus writing software points to computer science. Customer service is not a degree subject, and the other options do not suit the context.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “CS”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.