Ellipses

Front

What are ellipses?

Back

Ellipses are a series of three dots (...) used in writing to indicate an omission of words, a pause, or an unfinished thought.

Front

What do ellipses indicate in a sentence?

Back

Ellipses indicate a pause, an unfinished thought, or the omission of words.

Front

How are ellipses used to show an unfinished thought?

Back

Ellipses can be placed at the end of a sentence to suggest that the thought is incomplete, as in: 'I was thinking...'

Front

Can ellipses be used in quotations?

Back

Yes, ellipses can be used in quotations to indicate that some words have been omitted from the original text.

Front

Provide an example of ellipses indicating an unfinished thought.

Back

Example: 'I’m not sure... should we go?'

Front

What is the correct punctuation for ellipses?

Back

Ellipses are typically represented by three consecutive dots with no spaces between them.

Front

How do ellipses function in a list?

Back

Ellipses can be used to separate items in a list, indicating a pause or continuation, as in: 'The city was busy... noisy... and full of excitement.'

Front

What is the difference between ellipses and dashes?

Back

Ellipses indicate omission or unfinished thoughts, while dashes (—) indicate a break in thought or a shift in the sentence.

Front

What is an example of ellipses showing omission in a quotation?

Back

Example: 'She said, ‘I will get there soon... but I don’t know exactly when.’'

Front

How can ellipses create suspense in writing?

Back

Ellipses can create suspense by leaving the reader hanging, as in: 'I have a secret...'