两者的区别是强调的对象不同：

（1）cut short的意思是切成两半，强调某物被切后的状态是两半。

例句：

1、Officials believe the number of deaths caused by tuberculosis could be cut in half by 2010. 官员们认为，到2010年为止，由肺结核导致的死亡人数能减少一半。

2、At the same time the rations of party workers, soldiers and government officials were cut in half. 同时，还把党员干部、战土以及政府机关工作人员的口粮削减了一半。

（2）cut into的意思是切成两半，强调的是动作切成了两半。

例句：

1、The view from Hubble is like seeing an onion cut in halves, where each skin layer is discernible. 从哈勃看去这就好比一个从中间切开的洋葱，每一层都看的清清楚楚。

2、In addition, the incentive payment Zhang was promised was also cut in halves. 此外，公司曾允诺他的奖金也缩水了一半。