Comments on: Ellipsis Marks http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/ellipses/ellipsis-marks/ The #1 Grammar & Punctuation Resource on the Internet! Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:14:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jane http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/ellipses/ellipsis-marks/#comment-8107 Jane Thu, 01 Dec 2011 04:04:17 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=50#comment-8107 <em>The Chicago Manual of Style</em> 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… 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…

]]> By: R.D.Philbrook http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/ellipses/ellipsis-marks/#comment-8084 R.D.Philbrook Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:00:41 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=50#comment-8084 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. 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.

]]> By: Jane http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/ellipses/ellipsis-marks/#comment-8069 Jane Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:43:54 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=50#comment-8069 There is a fine line between the use of ellipsis marks vs. an em dash. When ellipsis marks are used in this manner, they are called suspension points. According to the <em>Chicago Manual of Style</em>, "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." There is a fine line between the use of ellipsis marks vs. an em dash. When ellipsis marks 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.”

]]> By: Jeff http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/ellipses/ellipsis-marks/#comment-8031 Jeff Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:32:06 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=50#comment-8031 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 http://writingclearandsimple.com: 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. 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 http://writingclearandsimple.com:

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.

]]> By: Jane http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/ellipses/ellipsis-marks/#comment-5980 Jane Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:58:42 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=50#comment-5980 Since your sentences indicate an abruptly unfinished thought and are not complete sentences, you would not need to use a punctuation mark. When typing, use two hyphens together to form a dash. Tell me his name or else-- This is such a nice car. If I had money... Since your sentences indicate an abruptly unfinished thought and are not complete sentences, you would not need to use a punctuation mark. When typing, use two hyphens together to form a dash.

Tell me his name or else–
This is such a nice car. If I had money…

]]> By: mark http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/ellipses/ellipsis-marks/#comment-5941 mark Sun, 24 Jul 2011 17:05:53 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=50#comment-5941 Hello, 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. Hello, 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.

]]> By: Jane http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/ellipses/ellipsis-marks/#comment-5804 Jane Wed, 25 May 2011 00:39:57 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=50#comment-5804 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 distinquish between an ellipsis that has been added and the ellipsis that might have been in the original text. I am not aware of any other use of a bracketed ellipsis. It is difficult to comment on your newspaper article without seeing it. 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 distinquish between an ellipsis that has been added and the ellipsis that might have been in the original text. I am not aware of any other use of a bracketed ellipsis. It is difficult to comment on your newspaper article without seeing it.

]]> By: Mai http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/ellipses/ellipsis-marks/#comment-5694 Mai Tue, 24 May 2011 05:10:32 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=50#comment-5694 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. 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.

]]> By: Jane http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/ellipses/ellipsis-marks/#comment-5803 Jane Wed, 18 May 2011 00:38:29 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=50#comment-5803 I am fairly sure I 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. I am fairly sure I 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.

]]> By: buck http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/ellipses/ellipsis-marks/#comment-5653 buck Mon, 16 May 2011 16:17:22 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=50#comment-5653 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. 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.

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