Booker's Blog

Connecting the dots

PenPal says:

Use an ellipsis (. . .) for:

1. The omission of a word, phrase, line, paragraph, or paragraphs; the points must always appear together on the same line. Do not split an ellipsis at the end of a line of text.
Example:
Over the clatter of dishes, Marcy could hear only certain parts of Dan’s conversation with Elicia. “I had to tell her . . . after the wedding . . . and then she blew up at me . . . not something that could be helped.”

2. Academic / research writing when indicating text removed from a larger body of text.
(I will not include an example here as this is beyond the scope of the literary writer’s needs. See style guides for scholarly writing.)

In a nutshell, ellipses should be used for missing text [and sometimes for the trailing off of dialog or thought where missing words are implied]. When using them, be sure to type and space correctly for current standard usage. The Chicago Manual of Style says this (paraphrased):

*Use only three points for general works and some scholarly writing regardless of how many words are missing or where they occur in a sentence (or between sentences).
*There should be one space between the previous word and the ellipsis.
*When typing the ellipsis, place one space between each point.
*There should be a space between the last point of the ellipsis and any following text.
*Leave no space if end punctuation follows the ellipsis.

Examples:
1. “The brightness of the students was not in question . . . At the same time, they were undoubtedly undernourished in literary minerals and vitamins.”
[Note the space before and after the ellipsis. The ellipsis lets the reader know that some of the speaker’s words are missing here.]

2. “I never meant to hurt you, Marissa, but did you really expect . . .?” John’s voice faltered, and over the roar of the plane’s engine, she couldn’t tell if he finished the sentence.
[In this example, the question mark comes immediately after the final dot of the ellipsis—no space.]

When not to use ellipsis points:
1. Before the first word of a quotation, even if the start of that sentence has been omitted.

2. After the last word of a quotation, even if the original end of the sentence has been omitted.

Note: Publishers and editors warn against overuse of the ellipsis in literary / genre writing. Use it sparingly and for best effect.

Please see The Chicago Manual of Style, “Ellipses,” for detailed and comprehensive information.

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Cathy Kodra a/k/a PenPal

About PenPal…
Cathy Kodra works as an independent editor in Knoxville, TN. Her poetry and short stories have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies including Roanoke Review, New Millennium Writings, Common Ground Review, Now & Then, Cavalier Literary Couture, Slow Trains, Still Crazy, The Medulla Review, Prime Mincer, Yemassee, and others. She is a contributing editor for New Millennium Writings and past guest poetry editor for The Medulla Review. She was first runner up in Prime Mincer’s 2011 Poetry Contest, judged by Rodney Jones, and took first place in the 2012 Old Gray Cemetery Poetry Contest. Cathy’s first poetry chapbook, Thin Ice, was published in 2011 by Medulla Publishing.

Cathy is a member of the Knoxville Writers’ Guild and of two local writing groups. An avid reader and writer, she is currently working on two poetry collections and a collection of short stories. Her hobbies include gardening and vegan cooking, and she lives happily with her husband Ron, two dogs, and a cat. She can be reached at www.cathykodra.com.