Elision is a linguistic phenomenon where certain sounds or syllables are omitted in speech or writing. This often occurs to make pronunciation easier or to maintain the rhythm of a phrase. For example, in casual conversation, "I am" may be shortened to "I'm," dropping the vowel sound in "am." In poetry and music, elision can enhance the flow and meter of the work. It allows for smoother transitions between words and can create a more pleasing auditory experience. Elision is commonly found in various languages and is an important aspect of phonetics and linguistics.