1. To shorten a quote:
* For brevity: They might want to use only a relevant portion of the quote, omitting unnecessary words or phrases.
* For focus: They might want to highlight a specific point within the quote, emphasizing its meaning.
Example:
* Original quote: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."
* Shortened quote: "The quick brown fox... jumps over the lazy dog."
2. To indicate an omission within a quote:
* This is often used when a writer wants to exclude information that is irrelevant to their point or that might be distracting to the reader.
Example:
* Original quote: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog, but the lazy dog doesn't seem to care."
* Quoted with omission: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog..."
3. To create a sense of suspense or mystery:
* The ellipsis can leave the reader wondering what was said or left unsaid, creating intrigue or tension.
Example:
* Dialogue: "I... I don't know what to tell you..."
4. To indicate a trailing off of thought:
* This can be used to show a character's uncertainty, hesitation, or a lapse in their thinking.
Example:
* Character's thoughts: "I wonder if... no, it can't be."
5. To represent an unfinished thought:
* This can be used to show that a character's thought or statement is interrupted, often by another character or event.
Example:
* Dialogue: "I'm going to..."
General guidelines:
* Always use three dots (.) to indicate an ellipsis.
* Place ellipses within quotation marks.
* If the ellipsis occurs at the end of a sentence, use a period before the ellipses.
* If the ellipsis occurs in the middle of a sentence, do not use a space before or after the ellipses.
* If the ellipsis occurs at the beginning of a sentence, use a space after the ellipses.
Remember, the use of ellipses should be strategic and serve a specific purpose in the writing. Overusing ellipses can become distracting and even confusing for the reader.