Table of Contents
Ellipses are different from dashes, but they share enough to need some clarification.
In dialogue, an ellipsis falters in confusion or creates a pause. The em dash interrupts abruptly.
Ellipses (singular = ellipsis)
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MS Word and similar word processors will create an ellipsis when three consecutive periods (dots) are typed.
The Chicago Manual of Style prefers hard (nonbreaking) spaces (Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar for Windows, Option+Spacebar for Mac) between the three dots. The Associated Press inserts no spaces between the dots, which is what your word processor will probably do.
Within a sentence, both AP and CMOS prefer a space before and after the ellipsis, treating it and punctuating it as though it were the word(s) omitted.
Between sentences, if the end of the sentence was omitted, then a period before the three dots. If the beginning of a following sentence was omitted, then a period after the preceding three dots.
According to the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS), an ellipsis indicates someone who is in a less-than-logical state of mind. They may be uncertain or frightened in an emergency or high-stress situation. They may hesitate or stammer, or their words may just trail off.
However, writers often use ellipses to indicate a pause in what is being said, which may be done for emphasis or hesitation.
If a phrase would require a comma, the comma goes before the ellipsis, just as it would if the missing word were said.
If the sentence is complete, a separate ending mark goes after the ellipsis, which may make four periods in a row.
If the word is cut off, then the ellipsis attaches to the end of the word with no space between. Treat it as the rest of the word.
Examples:
- “I thought I would … might … perha… I could … maybe you would let me …”
- (The thought continues throughout.)
- (Space before and after the three consecutive dots [AP style], except at the end)
- (The word “perhaps” is cut off before it is finished, so the ellipsis has no space before it.)
- (No punctuation at the end because the thought is not complete)
- “Well, maybe … if you would finish your sentence, …
- (Again, the same thought continues through the sentence.)
- (Space before and after, but no space needed when the ellipsis ends the sentence)
- (No punctuation at the end of the incomplete thought)
- “Could I have an … increase in my allowance? … You know the cost of living? … It just keeps going up! … Maybe ten percent or …”
- (Normal punctuation for questions or exclamations when they are complete sentences.)
- (Ellipses for hesitation between sentences)
It is important to keep the meaning of the quotation intact.
An ellipsis is not needed when the quotation begins mid-sentence. However, putting a capital letter in brackets may be required, depending upon for formality of the writing.
Short quotations may be included in the sentence/paragraph. Longer quotations should be indented in their own paragraph. The introduction may end with a period or a colon, depending on the context.
The amount of indentation is usually what would be for a first-line indent. Either both sides or only the left side may be indented.
Example from Hon. Edward Everett‘s two-hour speech, “The Battles of Gettysburg”:
The EM Dash
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