ellipsis

Use an ellipsis to condense quotes, texts or documents — ensuring not to change the meaning of the quote, text or document. Set off with spaces on both sides of the ellipsis. Never use an ellipsis at the beginning or end of a quotation. However, it can be used at the beginning or end of a paragraph.

Examples:

• Without: We were working on several bills at the time none of which passed, Jones said.
• With: We were working on several bills … none of which passed, Jones said.

• Without: It has become evident to me that I no longer have a strong enough political base, Nixon said.
• With: It has become evident … I no longer have a strong enough political base, Nixon said.

• Without: The book, Investigative Reporting, by Clark R. Mellenhoff, describes his own experiences as a reporter, using it as a guide, he says to demonstrate to students and young journalists the anyone can be a competent investigative reporter. He says it takes hard work, often describing long hours and learning to play the politics of Washington.
• With: The book, Investigative Reporting, by Clark R. Mellenhoff, describes his own experiences … to demonstrate to students and young journalists the anyone can be a competent investigative reporter. …

Use three periods to make the ellipsis, not a false ellipsis — that is, one made as a single character from the HTML code … or the Unicode U+02026. Remember that a false ellipsis is not read by screen readers.

← Return to Punctuation