Ellipsis Marks
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
Ellipsis Marks
Ellipsis marks (three dots) are used to show the omission of a word, phrase, line, or paragraph(s), from a quoted passage. The plural of this word is ellipses.
The Three-dot Method
There are many methods for using ellipses. The three-dot method is the simplest and is appropriate for most general works and many scholarly ones. The three- or four-dot method and an even more rigorous method used in legal works require fuller explanations that can be found in reference books.
Rule 1: Use ellipsis marks whether the omission occurs in the middle of a sentence or between sentences.
Example: The regulation states, “All agencies must document overtime . . . ”
Original sentence: “All agencies must document overtime or risk losing federal funds.”
Rule 2: You may leave out punctuation that precedes your ellipsis.
Example: Original sentence from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address:
“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
Rewritten using ellipses: “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth . . . a new nation, conceived in liberty.”
Rule 3: You do not need to use ellipses at the end of the quote even when words are missing, as in the above example.
Rule 4: If your quoted material begins with the middle of a sentence, you don’t need to use the ellipsis marks in front.
Example: Abraham Lincoln, in his Gettysburg address, said that “our fathers brought forth . . . a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
Rule 5: Use ellipsis marks with sentences that are meant to trail off.
Example: “I thought that you might . . . “
If the article or the existing discussions do not address a thought or question you have on the subject, please use the "Comment" box at the bottom of this page.
First–and this is me being picky–I noticed that Rule 2’s ellipsis mark is typed “…” unlike the rest which are typed “. . .”
Which is the correct way?
Secondly, I thought an ellipses mark was always required where words are missing, whether it be at the beginning, middle, or end of the quote. For example, say Lincoln’s original quote read, “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth a new nation dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
Now, if I use the method in this document (“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth a new nation.”), the reader is uninformed that the quote is incomplete. So should not the quote have an ellipsis mark at the end (“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth a new nation…”)?
I appreciate picky, but I don’t know where you are seeing “…” vs. “. . .” I can’t find a Rule 2 that shows either method. The method when forming ellipses with a PC is this: To create ellipsis marks with a PC, type the period three times and the spacing will be automatically set, or press Ctrl-Alt and the period once.
If there is an error on my site, I would like to correct it promptly. Thanks for your help.
Regarding your question, yes, ellipses should be used with “Four score …” so that the reader knows that the quote is incomplete. Where did you see it written by me without ellipses?
Rewritten using ellipses:
“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth…a new nation, conceived in liberty.”
(Should not an ellipsis mark follow the word “liberty”? According to Rule 3, explained below, it says it is not required.)
Rule 3: With the three-dot method, you do not need to use ellipses marks at the end of the quote even when words are missing, as in the above example.
Rule 4: If your quoted material begins with the middle of a sentence, you don’t need to use the ellipsis marks in front.
Example: Abraham Lincoln, in his Gettysburg address, said, “our fathers brought forth . . . a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that ‘all men are created equal.’”
(Why does an ellipsis mark not precede “our,” or why not type “our” as “[O]ur,” with the “o” capitalized and placed in brackets to signify the quote was modified by the quoter?)
Also, I have to use alt + 0133 to create an ellipsis mark. And what I meant by “. . .” vs. “…” is that except for Rule 2 the ellipsis marks are typed with three spaced periods ( . . . ) rather than the clustered bunch (…).
I’ve rewritten the ellipsis marks section to reflect the latest (and simplest) rules. Please see https://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/ellipses.asp.
If you have any questions after looking at this, let me know.
Three clustered periods (without spacing anywhere) is what I’ve always seen in books and any printed material. I used spacing between periods for some time, then Windows always automatically clustered them.
As we mention toward the beginning of the article, “There are many methods for using ellipses.” Software such as Word will automatically format the spacing for you. Be consistent however you choose to do it.
Rule 2: When you omit one or more paragraphs within a long quotation, use ellipsis marks after the last punctuation mark that ends the preceding paragraph.
(Should a space be inserted between the last punctuation mark and the succeeding ellipsis mark?)
A space between the last punctuation mark and a succeeding ellipsis is used by some, but not all, editors.
Should ellipses marks always be placed inside quotation marks as periods are?
Yes.
Should I put an ellipses after the words It’s that time of year again…
then on down in the email I put the words let’s get to work.
Ellipses can be used to indicate a slight pause in speech. If that is your intention in the middle of your quote, then you may use ellipses.
As I understand, spaces between the three dots, or no spaces, is a matter of choice…as long as you maintain consistency. I see both being used by different authors.
What surprises me is a space being used after the three dots in my local newspaper.
There is no one rule to follow regarding ellipses. The Chicago Manual of Style, for instance, recommends a space both before and after the ellipsis as well as a space between periods. The key is to maintain consistency.
did anyone used this ^ inverted V symbol for omission in school time
Does anyone know what it is called? ?
It is called a caret, and it is used to indicate the place where something is to be inserted.
I know this thread is long ended, but wanted to see if I might get some help. I am reprinting an article in a corporate newsletter and am eliminating two consecutive paragraphs from the original. The preceding paragraph ends with a quote, but I will continue with unquoted copy. So, should it read like this…
“…end of paragraph.”…
Start of paragraph…
Or is it ever appropriate to separate paragraphs with a standalone ellipsis like this…
“…end of paragraph.”
…
Start of paragraph…
Thanks for the help…and hope the question wasn’t thoroughly confusing.
We are fairly sure we understand what you are asking. It should read like your first example. It would not be appropriate to separate paragraphs with an ellipsis by itself.
When do we use ellipsis mark between square brackets?
I saw this sign […] after a complete sentence in a newspaper and preceeding the second paragraph.
Brackets are used when you wish to insert something into a text. Some style manuals recommend the use of brackets around an ellipsis in a quotation to distinguish between an ellipsis that has been added and the ellipsis that might have been in the original text. We are not aware of any other use of a bracketed ellipsis. It is difficult to comment on your newspaper article without seeing it.
Id like to ask if it is necessary and correct (or appropriate) to use any punctuation mark after the terminal dash and the terminal ellipsis:
Tell me his name or else-
This is such a nice car. If I had money …
Would it be correct to use a period to finish the sentences (or maybe even an exclamation mark for the first sentence)? Both the dash and the ellipsis show that the sentences are not finished but they dont continue so I am confused if I should finish them with one of the final stop punctuation marks (when, as I read, 1- every sentence must be finished by an appropriate punctuation mark [the final stop], and 2- neither the dash nor the ellipsis are the final stop punctuation marks). Thank you for your answer.
Since your sentences indicate an abruptly unfinished thought and are not complete sentences, you could use ellipses.
Tell me his name or else …
This is such a nice car. If I had money …
I was taught that the ellipsis is also used for a pause in a sentence (longer than the pause indicated by a comma), such as:
“I wonder … is there more than one reason to use an ellipsis?”
as opposed to:
“I wonder if there is more than one reason to use an ellipsis.”
Quoting another website:
The dot-dot-dot thing you use when you want to indicate a pause in dialog, or and (sic) omission in a quotation? You know, like this:
“The chocolate-coated kippers were . . . interesting.”
That’s called an ellipsis. (The plural is ellipses.) In the example above, it indicates that the speaker paused, searching for a diplomatic way to describe the food.
There is a fine line between the use of ellipses and em dashes. When ellipses are used in this manner, they are called suspension points. According to the Chicago Manual of Style, “Suspension points–also used to indicate an ellipsis–may be used to suggest faltering or fragmented speech accompanied by confusion or insecurity. Interruptions or abrupt changes in thought are usually indicated by em dashes.”
Mark said: “I am confused if I should finish them with one of the final stop punctuation marks (when, as I read, 1- every sentence must be finished by an appropriate punctuation mark [the final stop], and 2- neither the dash nor the ellipsis are the final stop punctuation marks).”
The answer given does not answer his question. I understand that the elipsis cannot serve as ending punctuation except in formal works such as reseach (same for serving as beginning punctuation). Your answer is clearly confusing (no pun intended). Therefore I see his sentence as “It is such a nice car. If I had money…. An ellipsis indicating missing text and a period to end the sentence. Whether the thought was abruptly ended or simple unfinished (s/a trailing off) does not impact upon the required ending punctuation.
The Chicago Manual of Style states, “If you use the ellipsis merely to indicate a voice or thought trailing off, you would not use the period with it.” Mark’s example fits that description.
This is such a nice car. If I had money …
I find myself using ellipses far too often as a replacement for commas or just to end a sentence with a pause for emphasis. Actually, I’m not clear on their correct usage.
The proper, formal use of ellipses is limited to the omission of words from a quoted passage. Ellipses are becoming commonly misused in informal writing such as emails and text messages.
I want to quote this sentence:
“To be ‘led’ by the Spirit here denotes, not special guidance or decision-making (e.g. Which college should I attend? Whom should I marry?), but the initiative of the Spirit in directing and empowering believers to live a righteous life.”
But I don’t want to include the e.g. in the parenthesis. Do I need to use an ellipsis to show I’m leaving out the parentheses since the author has already suggested, through the use of parentheses, that the information in it isn’t important?
Since the original quote contains the parenthetical material, you should use an ellipsis to show that you are omitting it.
In the context of quoted speech ending in an ellipse and followed by an identification phrase, how does one properly punctuate the quote?
For example, what is the correct punctuation of the following sentence?
“I’m unsure what you want me …” A quiet voice whispered.
or
“I’m unsure what you want me …,” a quiet voice whispered.
or some other variant.
A straightforward response to your question would be: “I’m unsure what you want me …,” a quiet voice whispered.
We also suggest that there is no need for an ellipsis before the comma. Also, “quiet voice whispered” is redundant. You could write: “I’m unsure what you want from me,” a voice whispered.
What is the correct order of punctuation at the end of the following sentence?
The first line was originally “As I went down in the valley to pray . . .”.
Should the punctuation be this:
pray. . . .”
or
pray . . . “. ?
We use Chicago style, but I can’t find this sort of situation in the CMOS section on ellipses.
Thanks!
Chicago’s Rule 13.53 says, “Three dots are used at the end of a quoted sentence that is deliberately left grammatically incomplete.” Therefore, write:
The first line was originally “As I went down in the valley to pray . . .”
I did not see an example of ellipses used when the first and last portions of a sentence are omitted. I understand that an ellipsis is not used at the beginning, but what about at the end?
Example: There is a swelling movement within the organization that appears to be unstoppable.
Is “a swelling movement within the organization…” the correct choice?
Yes. The Chicago Manual of Style recommends that an ellipsis be used at the end of a quoted sentence that is deliberately left grammatically incomplete.
In business writing, I typically use a series of dots (periods) to separate my thoughts and to isolate and emphasize a thought within a sentence.
I’m not too concerned about precise grammatical correctness but more of an overall perception as to how what I do is perceived by the reader.
I do it to “separate” thoughts in a sentence and to give those separated thought polite emphasis.
I was recently told the dots appear offensive…..as if to shout out at the reader.
I of course disagree and this was the first time anyone has said that.
I’ve reviewed the use of an ellipse and find some agreement and disagreement. My separations are usually several dots…not just three as with the ellipse.
Can you tell me is if using the dots as in the examples below would be considered……offensive?
EXAMPLES:
On numerous occasions……I have phoned her……with no success in reaching her.
See what I mean……this is the third email I sent……and we still have no reply.
Of course, we cannot tell you what overall perception other readers are having as a result of your series-of-dots style. We don’t consider it offensive as much as we consider it to be a distraction—it draws attention to the writer more than to the matter at hand. To us, using conventional punctuation would be more effective in getting your point across.
The ellipsis. I love it and I use it / abuse it often. Perhaps too much. I write and publish a travel blog. My posts are full of pictures, sometimes with captions, sometimes not. Often I will tell a story with a string of pictures, interrupted with a couple words or a phrase. I use the ellipsis as a way to transition from one picture to the next and purposefully introduce a choppiness into the thought stream. Example:
I thought I had seen it all, but then …
[Picture]
… after that …
[Picture]
… and finally …
[Picture]
… I’d had it.
I know this is not the intended usage for this punctuation item (Is the ellipsis punctuation?), but it seems to work for me. Your thoughts.
Yes, the ellipsis is a punctuation mark. The work you are asking of the ellipsis is not far afield from our description contained in Rule 2 of Ellipses.
What if you have an ellipsis ending one part of a two-part sentence? I’m not sure of the proper term for those.
EXAMPLE:
“What if…” he began, “we just start over?”
or
“What if…” he began hesitantly. “What if… we just start over?”
Something in that neighborhood. What would the proper punctuation be in that case? Would I get rid of the ellipsis in favor of a comma?
When ellipses are used in this manner, they are called suspension points. According to the Chicago Manual of Style, “Suspension points–also used to indicate an ellipsis–may be used to suggest faltering or fragmented speech accompanied by confusion or insecurity. Interruptions or abrupt changes in thought are usually indicated by em dashes.” If that is your intention, the suspension points are appropriate. A comma is used between suspension points and quotation marks.
“What if …,” he began, “we just start over?”
“What if …,” he began hesitantly. “What if … we just start over?”
In a piece of writing, I wish to quote five separate sentences I’ve selected from a nine-paragraph piece of writing. I wish to quote the sentences immediately one after the other.
Sentence 1 comes from the beginning of paragraph 1.
Sentence 2 comes from the middle of paragraph 2.
Sentence 3 comes from the middle of paragraph 5.
Sentence 4 comes from the middle of paragraph 7.
Sentence 5 comes from the beginning of paragraph 9.
Do I have to show with ellipses and paragraph breaks that these sentences come from different paragraphs, or can I quote them:
“Sentence 1 . . . Sentence 2 . . . Sentence 3 . . . Sentence 4 . . . Sentence 5.”?
Thank you.
As we mention, there are many methods for using ellipses. Also, since we are not clear about the context of what you are asking about, we can’t give specific guidance. We leave the method to your judgment. That being said, our article mentions that ellipsis marks indicate the omission of a word, phrase, line, or paragraph from a quoted work. Therefore your method using three-dot ellipses one after the other (not on separate lines) seems acceptable. If you wanted to make it even clearer that each of the five excerpts is a full sentence, you could also choose to use a four-dot method: “Sentence 1. … Sentence 2. … Sentence 3. …,” etc. We hope that helps.
I have just written a book and used a fair amount of ellipses. I am a bit puzzled because I put the three dots beginning with no space, then a space after the three dots. Would this be considered to be incorrect?
e.g. I wrote: I was so devastated by being isolated… I just wept in my room.
Should it be: I was so devastated by being isolated … I just wept in my room.
A space before and after the ellipsis is our preferred style. However, as we point out in our Ellipses Rules, there is no one rule to follow regarding ellipses. Some writers and editors feel that no spaces are necessary, and others enclose the ellipsis with a space on each side. Still others put a space either directly before or directly after the ellipsis. The key is to maintain consistency.
How does one punctuate a quote that, after being interrupted by another sentence, is completed after the interruption referenced?
“Whatever you decide …” The old man lifted his hand. “will determine your future.”
“Whatever you decide …” The old man lifted his hand … “will determine your future.”
Rather than using ellipsis in a case such as this, should one instead just use em dashes?
“Whatever you decide” — The old man lifted his hand — “will determine your future.”
We would treat it as:
“Whatever you decide…” The old man lifted his hand. “…will determine your future.”
OR
“Whatever you decide”—the old man lifted his hand—”will determine your future.”
Is the comma before the ellipsis appropriate in this context:
They chanted in unison, “One, two, three, . . . fifty!”
We would need to know what was omitted in the sentence in order to provide an answer.
I am omitting four, five, six, etc.
Also wanted to know if the same rule would apply in the sentence “One, two, three, . . . infinity!”
A comma is not necessary before an ellipsis unless it is essential to grammatical accuracy. In the case of a number sequence, the ellipsis provides the pause that the comma would otherwise convey.