GV

Ellipsis (...)

Using three dots to show omission, trailing off, or pause

intermediate

When to Use Ellipsis (...)

  • •Omission in quotations: 'To be or not to be ... that is the question.'
  • •Trailing off or unfinished thought: I was thinking maybe we could...
  • •Pause or hesitation: Well... I'm not sure about that.
  • •Building suspense: The door slowly opened... and there stood...
  • •Indicating passage of time: Years passed... and she never returned.

How to Form Ellipsis (...)

Affirmative (+)

Three dots with spaces: word ... word (formal) or word... word (informal)

Negative (-)

Don't use more than three dots (avoid ....)

Question (?)

Ellipsis can come before question mark: What if...?

💡 In formal writing, use spaces around ellipsis. In informal writing, no spaces is common.

Examples of Ellipsis (...)

✓The original text states: 'Four score and seven years ago ... all men are created equal.'

✗The original text states: 'Four score and seven years ago all men are created equal.'

Use ellipsis to show words have been omitted from a quotation.

✓I wanted to tell you something... never mind.

✗I wanted to tell you something.... never mind.

Use exactly three dots, not four or more.

✓She whispered, 'I think I saw...' and then stopped.

✗She whispered, 'I think I saw' and then stopped.

Ellipsis shows the speaker trailed off without finishing.

Common Mistakes with Ellipsis (...)

💡 Practice Tips for Ellipsis (...)

  • • Three dots only: ... (not .. or ....)
  • • Quotation omission: shows removed words from original text
  • • Trailing off: speaker doesn't finish their thought
  • • Suspense/pause: creates dramatic effect in creative writing
  • • Formal vs informal: spaces around ellipsis in formal writing
Quick Quiz
  1. 1.How many dots make a standard ellipsis? 
  2. 2.Which sentence uses ellipsis correctly? 
  3. Question 3: Insert the correct number of dots (mark only) for the ellipsis: I don't know blank maybe later.
    3.Insert the correct number of dots (mark only) for the ellipsis: I don't know maybe later.
  4. Question 4: Which mark is used to show that words have been omitted from a quotation? (one word)blank
    4.Which mark is used to show that words have been omitted from a quotation? (one word)
  5. Question 5: True or false: 'The meeting is at 3...pm' uses ellipsis correctly.blank
    5.True or false: 'The meeting is at 3...pm' uses ellipsis correctly.
  6. Question 6: Add an ellipsis to mark the trailing speech (mark only). She whispered, 'I think I sawblank' and then stopped.
    6.Add an ellipsis to mark the trailing speech (mark only). She whispered, 'I think I saw' and then stopped.
  7. Question 7: In formal writing, the ellipsis is typically separated from surrounding words by blank. (one word)
    7.In formal writing, the ellipsis is typically separated from surrounding words by . (one word)
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