What is an ellipsis and how do you use one correctly?: Difference between revisions
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*As a simple tell to deleted text, the ellipses is used this way: Ziggy explained his magic trick by instructing to "multiply your age in years by 365.25 . . . that is your age in days." | *As a simple tell to deleted text, the ellipses is used this way: Ziggy explained his magic trick by instructing to "multiply your age in years by 365.25 . . . that is your age in days." | ||
*To show that an entire sentence was deleted: "But mom," Chris pined,"I still have an hour left. . . . I won't be late for school." | *To show that an entire sentence was deleted: "But mom," Chris pined,"I still have an hour left. . . . I won't be late for school." | ||
** | **Note the use of the period before the ellipsis. | ||
*If showing hesitation or interruption an ellipsis may be used. | *If showing hesitation or interruption an ellipsis may be used. | ||
*A line of dots is used when a line of text in poetry has been removed. | *A line of dots is used when a line of text in poetry has been removed. | ||
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**This rule is excused if cutting out the last quoted sentence. | **This rule is excused if cutting out the last quoted sentence. | ||
*Hodges warns: "Whenever you omit anything from material you quote, make sure your omission does not change the meaning of the original." | *Hodges warns: "Whenever you omit anything from material you quote, make sure your omission does not change the meaning of the original." | ||
** | **Also pointed out: when omitting a beginning sentence, there is no need for a capital letter. | ||
==Works Cited== | ==Works Cited== | ||
Revision as of 22:19, 10 July 2006
Ellipsis
Definition
An Ellipsis is three spaced periods that denote deleted text from a quotation (Hacker 270).
Proper Uses
- As a simple tell to deleted text, the ellipses is used this way: Ziggy explained his magic trick by instructing to "multiply your age in years by 365.25 . . . that is your age in days."
- To show that an entire sentence was deleted: "But mom," Chris pined,"I still have an hour left. . . . I won't be late for school."
- Note the use of the period before the ellipsis.
- If showing hesitation or interruption an ellipsis may be used.
- A line of dots is used when a line of text in poetry has been removed.
Errors In Use
- Using ellipsis to start or end a quotation is not needed.
- This rule is excused if cutting out the last quoted sentence.
- Hodges warns: "Whenever you omit anything from material you quote, make sure your omission does not change the meaning of the original."
- Also pointed out: when omitting a beginning sentence, there is no need for a capital letter.
Works Cited
Hacker, Diana. A Writer's Reference. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2003.
Glenn, Cheryl, Robert K. Miller, Suzanne S. Webb, and Loretta Gray. Hodges' Harbrace Handbook. Bostn: Thomsom/Wadsworth, 2004.