ELLIPSIS

GROUP 10
 Definition

The ellipsis ( . . . ) is also known to some as dot-dot-dot

because it consists of three periods, or dots, in a row.
 When to use ellipses?

Use an ellipsis to show an omission, or leaving out, of a word or words in a

quote. Use ellipses to shorten the quote without changing the meaning.

Shorten the quote below by replacing a few words with an ellipsis!

“After school I went to her house, which was a few blocks away, and
then came home.”
 When to use ellipses?

“After school I went to her house . . . and then came home.”

We removed the words “which was a few blocks away” and replaced them
with an ellipsis without changing the meaning of the original quote.
 When to use ellipses?

Use an ellipsis to show a pause in a thought or to create suspense.

Examples :
She opened the door . . . and saw . . . a cake!
I was thinking . . . maybe we should call home.
 Pauses

When the speaker is in doubt, or knows something which he really does not
want to tell the listeners about, he tends to take time while speaking and this
pause is indicated in the written text via the ellipsis.

“I . . . um . . . really . . . don’t know.”

“Could you . . . err . . . please . . . stop talking.”
“Would you . . . join me . . . for coffee?”
 When to use ellipses?

Use an ellipsis to show a break, or trailing off, of a thought.

Examples :
I never thought . . . .
I know I saw my keys somewhere . . . .
“I’m not sure what to do . . . ,” he said.
 Continuation of thought

Sometimes the ellipsis is used to denote that the declared thought is

unfinished in sentence. Writers use this punctuation to leave it upon the
readers to think about the finishing the thought with their own opinion, or
sometimes they use it to make the reader ponder over some reality.

“What is the world turning into . . . ?

“And so the circle of life continues . . . .
 How to make ellipsis?

An ellipsis is made of three dots called ellipsis points. Ellipsis are exactly
three dots, not two or four.
Type three periods with spaces in between.
space-period-space-period-space-period-space ( . . . )
 How to make ellipsis?

If the ellipsis is in the place of a word or part of a sentence, leave a space on

each side of the ellipsis.

We went to the city, shopped, ate lunch and arrived home after
midnight. (Without an ellipsis)
We went to the city . . . and arrived home after midnight. (With an
ellipsis, removing the words “shopped, ate lunch”)
 How to make ellipsis?

If the ellipsis is used to replace words at the end of a sentence, it should be

followed by a period ( . ), question mark ( ? ) or exclamation point ( ! ) to
end the sentence.
 Guidelines

Use three ellipsis points (three spaced periods preceded and followed by
spaces) to show that one or more words have been omitted within a quoted
sentence.

Example :
“The critics are raving about . . . this film.” (Use a period and three
ellipsis points if the ellipsis fall at the end of a sentence.)
Example :
“The band’s rise has been phenomenal . . . .” (In fiction and informal
writing, ellipses are used to indicate that an idea has trailed off.
 Summary

The ellipsis is a form of punctuation used in writing the English language. It

can be used to show an omission, to show a pause or create suspense, or to
show a break in thought. An ellipsis is made by using three periods in a row
with spaces before, after, and in between.
THANK YOU