A contact tip suitable for electric arc welding has a consumable electrode. The contact tip has a body which defines a bore through which the electrode is able to pass to enable electric current from a welding power supply to be transferred from the body to the electrode. The body, in part of the length of the bore between an inlet end and an outlet end, has at least one region (herein referred to as a primary contact region) at which the body is adapted to enable primary electrical contact with the electrode, and along a remainder part of the length of the bore, the body is adapted such that any secondary contact between the body and the electrode along the remainder part does not substantially short circuit the primary electrical contact in the primary contact region of the bore.