Ellipsis

An ellipsis, in grammar and rhetoric, refers to the omission of one or more words that are obviously understood but must be supplied to make a construction grammatically complete. It creates a stylistic effect, often to avoid unnecessary repetition or to suggest a pause, trailing thought, or a sense of incompleteness. The marks used to indicate an ellipsis are three periods (...) with a space before, after, and between each dot in English. While commonly found in literature to indicate omitted text or a break in thought or speech, ellipses are also used in mathematics and computer programming. The strategic deployment of an ellipsis shapes narrative pace, dialogue rhythm, and the overall tone of a text.

Ellipsis meaning with examples

• 1. She hesitated, then said, 'I... I don't know what to do.' The ellipsis here indicates a break in her speech, conveying uncertainty or a struggle to express herself. The pause adds depth to her character and helps convey her emotions of doubt and confusion, allowing the reader to better understand her predicament and allowing them to fill in the blanks.
• 2. 'The suspect was seen entering the building, then... nothing.' This usage uses the ellipsis to signal a gap in the sequence of events, leaving the reader to infer what happened next. It heightens the suspense, suggesting a crucial piece of information is missing or is being intentionally withheld, building anticipation of what occurred at the building.
• 3. The instructions stated, 'Step 1: Boil water. Step 2: Add pasta... Step 4: Serve.' The ellipsis indicates that one or more steps have been omitted for brevity. The reader intuitively understands the implied action, allowing the user to not have to reread the steps. This avoids unnecessary repetition and streamlines the process of completing the task.
• 4. 'The film was gripping... a true masterpiece.' Here, the ellipsis creates a dramatic pause or a sense of awe, intensifying the impact of the statement. It encourages the reader to consider the quality and experience provided by the movie. The ellipsis invites the reader to pause and consider the implications.