Decide whether ellipses are used appropriately

key notes :

What is an Ellipsis (…)?

An ellipsis is a set of three dots (…) used in writing.
It shows that words have been left out, a pause, or unfinished thought.

When Is an Ellipsis Used Correctly?

✅ 1. To Show Omission of Words (in quotes or sentences)

Used when some words are removed, but the meaning stays the same.
Example:
Original: “I love to read books every night before bed.”
With ellipsis: “I love to read books … before bed.”

🔍 Tip: Meaning should remain clear even after removing words.

✅ 2. To Show a Pause or Hesitation

Used in dialogue or narration to show someone is thinking, unsure, or pausing.
Example:
“I think… we should go now.”

🗣️ Shows uncertainty or suspense.

✅ 3. To Show an Unfinished Thought

Used when a sentence or idea is left incomplete.
Example:
“If only I had listened to you…”

😔 Leaves reader thinking about what happened next!

When Ellipses Are Used Incorrectly

❌ 1. Using More or Fewer Than Three Dots

Wrong: ……… or .. or . . . .
Correct: … only three dots

❌ 2. Using Ellipsis Too Often

Don’t use ellipses in every line — it becomes confusing and weakens writing.
Avoid this:
“We went to the park… then we saw birds… then we ate ice cream…”

❌ 3. Removing Important Meaning

If the skipped words change the original meaning, the ellipsis is used incorrectly.

🧠 Quick Check!

Ask these questions to decide if ellipses are appropriate:

✅ Yes	🚫 No
Does it show words are omitted correctly?	Does it change the meaning of the original sentence?
Does it show a natural pause or hesitation?	Is it used too many times?
Is it only three dots?	Are there more or fewer than three dots?

Summary

Use Ellipses For	Do NOT Use Ellipses For
Omission of words	Replacing full stops
Pauses in speech	Making writing unclear
Unfinished thoughts	Overuse in every sentence

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Let’s practice!🖊️