When is an ellipsis used?
• to correct or delete information
• to indicate a change in subject
• to indicate a pause or an omission
• to show where a thought ends
To indicate a pause or an omission
Definition of omission, "The ellipsis... is a series of dots that indicates an intentional omission of a word, sentence, or whole section from a text."
An ellipsis is a punctuation mark consisting of three dots (...) used to indicate a pause or omission in a sentence. Here are some instances when an ellipsis is commonly used:
1. To indicate a pause or hesitation: Ellipses can be used to show a pause in speech or writing, indicating that there is more to be said or that the thought is trailing off. For example: "I was going to say... never mind."
2. To indicate an omission: Ellipses can be used to show that a portion of the text has been intentionally left out. This is often used when quoting a longer passage but wanting to focus on a specific part. For instance: "The passage states, 'The sun was shining... birds were chirping... flowers were blooming...'"
3. To indicate a change in subject: Ellipses can be used to show a shift or transition between topics in a conversation or a piece of writing. For example: "We discussed the weather... and then moved on to politics."
4. To show where a thought ends: Ellipses can be used at the end of a sentence to show that the thought is unresolved or trailing off. For instance: "I wonder if... oh well, it doesn't matter."
It's important to note that when using ellipses, it's essential to be mindful of proper usage and not to misuse them to manipulate the meaning of a quote or misrepresent someone's words.