What do two dots mean at the beginning of a sentence?

Two dots at the beginning of a sentence are most likely part of an ellipsis (...). An ellipsis indicates an omission of words, phrases, lines, or even entire paragraphs.

Here are some common uses of an ellipsis:

* To indicate a trailing off of thought: "I was thinking about...well, never mind."

* To indicate a pause or hesitation: "He looked at me, then...said nothing."

* To indicate omitted material: "The story began with a young man...who traveled to a distant land."

* To show that something continues: "The list goes on and on...all the way to the end of the book."

It's important to note that two dots by themselves are not an ellipsis. An ellipsis is formed with three dots.