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Why do we use ellipsis marks?
The term ellipsis comes from the Greek word meaning “omission,” and that’s just what an ellipsis does—it shows that something has been left out. When you’re quoting someone, you can use an ellipsis to show that you’ve omitted some of their words.
What are ellipses used to indicate?
The ellipsis is also called a suspension point, points of ellipsis, periods of ellipsis, or (colloquially) “dot-dot-dot”. Depending on their context and placement in a sentence, ellipses can indicate an unfinished thought, a leading statement, a slight pause, an echoing voice, or a nervous or awkward silence.
What do ellipsis marks look like?
An ellipsis (plural: ellipses) is a punctuation mark consisting of three dots. Use an ellipsis when omitting a word, phrase, line, paragraph, or more from a quoted passage.
What is an effective use of ellipsis?
Use an ellipsis when omitting a word, phrase, line, paragraph, or more from a quoted passage. Ellipses save space or remove material that is less relevant. They are useful in getting right to the point without delay or distraction: Full quotation: “Today, after hours of careful thought, we vetoed the bill.”
What are the 3 dots called in a sentence?
ellipsis
You see those dots? All three together constitute an ellipsis. The plural form of the word is ellipses, as in “a writer who uses a lot of ellipses.” They also go by the following names: ellipsis points, points of ellipsis, suspension points.
What does 3 dots mean at the end of a sentence?
Those little dots often found in a sentence or quote are called an ellipsis. The term ellipsis comes from the Greek word meaning ‘omission,’ and that’s just what it does: an ellipsis shows that something has been left out.
How do you use the word ellipse in a sentence?
Using An Ellipsis to Show an Omission. In formal writing, the most common way to use an ellipsis is to show that you’ve omitted words. For example, if you’re quoting someone and you want to shorten the quote, you use ellipses to indicate where you’ve dropped words or sentences.
When to use Ellipse?
Use an ellipsis when omitting a word, phrase, line, paragraph, or more from a quoted passage. Ellipses save space or remove material that is less relevant. They are useful in getting right to the point without delay or distraction: Example: Although ellipses are used in many ways, the three-dot method is the simplest.
What are ellipses used for?
In reported speech, the ellipsis can be used to represent an intentional silence. In poetry, an ellipsis is used as a thought-pause or line break at the caesura or this is used to highlight sarcasm or make the reader think about the last points in the poem.
What is an ellipse in writing?
In Writing. Ellipsis (plural, ellipses) is a technique in grammar, also called elliptical construction, that is used to avoid unnecessary repetition or to avoid stating information that the reader already knows.