Decide whether ellipses are used appropriately

Key Notes:

🌟 Decide Whether Ellipses (…) Are Used Appropriately ✨✍️

🔹 What is an Ellipses?

• 👉 An ellipsis (…) is a set of three dots used in writing.
• 👉 It shows that something has been left out OR a pause in speech/thought.

🔹 Uses of Ellipses ✅

1. Omitting words in a quotation 📖

• Example: “The dog… ran to the park.” 🐕🏞️
• (Some words are skipped but meaning is clear!)

2. Showing hesitation or pause in speech 😶

• Example: “I was just… thinking about it.” 🤔

3. Creating suspense or unfinished thought 😯

• Example: “And then… it happened!” ⚡

🔹 When NOT to Use Ellipses ❌

• 🚫 Don’t use ellipses just to make your writing look dramatic.
• 🚫 Don’t add more than three dots (…) – unless at the end of a sentence with a period (….).
• 🚫 Don’t use them if nothing is missing or no pause is needed.

🔹 How to Decide if Ellipses are Used Correctly 🤓

• ✔️ Does it show missing words in a quotation?
• ✔️ Does it show a pause, hesitation, or suspense?
• ✔️ Is it exactly three dots (…)?
• 👉 If YES → Correct use ✅
• 👉 If NO → Incorrect use ❌

🌈 Quick Examples 🌈

• ✅ Correct: “She said, ‘I will… try my best.’” 💪
• ❌ Incorrect: “He went to the market…….” (Too many dots 😅)

• ✅ Correct: “The story begins… but we don’t know how it ends.” 📖
• ❌ Incorrect: “The cat is… on the mat.” (No words skipped or pause needed 🐱)

🎯 Remember:

• ✨ Ellipses (…) = Missing words / Pause / Suspense ✨
• 👉 Use carefully to keep your writing clear and meaningful!

let’s practice!

Read this text.

After a 5.8 magnitude earthquake rattled Washington, D.C., in 2011 and damaged the Washington Monument, engineers examined every stone in the monument and discovered more than one hundred fifty cracks.

Is this an appropriate use of an ellipsis?

‘After a 5.8 magnitude earthquake . . . damaged the Washington Monument, engineers examined every stone in the monument and discovered more than one hundred fifty cracks.’