English Grammar for the Utterly Confused - Laurie Rozakis 2003

Ellipsis
Chapter 10 Punctuation
Part 4 A Writers Tools

The ellipsis (three spaced dots) is used to show that you have left something out of a passage you are quoting. You can also use ellipsis to show a pause in a conversation.

1. Use the ellipsis to show that you have deleted words or sentences from a passage you are quoting.

Abraham Lincoln said: “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth ... a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

2. Use the ellipsis to show a pause or interruption.

“No,” I said. “I... I need some time to think about your offer.”

Quick Tip

Don’t use the ellipsis to show that words have been omitted from the beginning of a sentence. Just omit the words and begin the quote.