Ellipses: Connecting the dots

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An ellipsis is the three dots ( ... ) (no spaces between the dots) used to represent the omission of a word, phrase, line or paragraph(s) from a quoted passage. The plural of the word is "ellipses", which means at least two sets of three dots.

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.

Note: To create an ellipsis by using a computerised word editing programme, type a period three times, or press Ctrl-Alt and the period only once (if using the Microsoft Word application).

Rule 1: Use an ellipsis whether the omission occurs in the middle of a sentence or between sentences.

Example: The regulation states, "All agencies must document overtime ..."

The original sentence is: "All agencies must document overtime or risk losing federal funds."

Rule 2: With the three-dot method, you may leave out punctuation, such as commas, that appears in the original document.

Example: 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: 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 in the middle of a sentence, you don't need to use 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."

Source: 'The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation: An Easy-to-Use Guide with Clear Rules, Real-World Examples, and Reproducible Quizzes', by Jane Straus, ISBN: 978-0-470-22268-3. Learn more at http://www.GrammarBook.com .