In one aspect a semiconductor device as set forth herein can include a spacer having a first section of a first material and a second section of a second material, the second section disposed above a certain elevation and the first section disposed below the certain elevation. In one aspect a semiconductor device as set forth herein can include a conductive gate structure having a first length at elevations below a certain elevation and a second length at elevations above the certain elevation, the second length being less than the first length. A semiconductor device having one or more of a plural material spacer or a reduced length upper elevation conductive gate structure can feature a reduced likelihood of electrical shorting.