Ellipses, which are also called ellipsis points and ellipsis dots, represent omissions in quotations and interruptions in dialogue. That seems simple enough, doesn’t it? But, that’s where the simplicity ends because several of our most well-respected style and usage guides disagree on how ellipses should be formatted. To add to this punctuating drama, there’s even a disagreement over what ellipses should be called when they represent omissions in quotations rather than interruptions in dialogue.
Let’s unravel these conflicting recommendations point by point. Today’s post explains how to use ellipses for omissions within and between quoted sentences. Part 2 will cover ellipses between quoted paragraphs. Part 3 will discuss ellipses at the beginning and at the end of a quoted sentence. Part 4 will uncover the mystery of ellipses in brackets. And finally, Part 5 will tackle ellipses in dialogue.
Regardless of formatting, ellipses should only be used to omit text that is repetitive or in some way unnecessary within the context of your document. They should never be used to change or hide the meaning of quoted material. When in doubt, don’t take it out!
How to Use Ellipses for Omissions within a Quoted Sentence
General Rule: Three ellipses indicate that text has been omitted within a quoted sentence.
The Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago), the MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing (MLA), and the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) recommend using a space before and after equally spaced ellipses. 1
Original: The veterinarian said, “There is minimal chance of a recurrence or setback from the lengthy illness and the patient should recover within one week.”
Truncated: The veterinarian said, “There is minimal chance of a recurrence or setback . . . and the patient should recover within one week.”
The Associated Press Stylebook (AP), on the other hand, suggests using a space before and after three adjoined (not spaced) ellipses.2
Truncated: The veterinarian said, “There is minimal chance of a recurrence or setback … and the patient should recover within one week.”
How to Use Ellipses for Omissions between Quoted Sentences
General Rule: A period followed by three ellipses indicate that text has been omitted between sentences. Occasionally, an omission between sentences is indicated by three ellipses followed by a period. In both formats, the omission appears as four points.
Chicago, MLA, and APA recommend using a period followed by three equally spaced ellipses.3
Original: “The cat expert teaches cat guardians important skills such as how to trim their cat’s nails and how to safely load their cat into a travel carrier. These skills help cat guardians avoid unnecessary vet bills.”
Truncated: “The cat expert teaches cat guardians important skills such as how to trim their cat’s nails. . . . These skills help cat guardians avoid unnecessary vet bills.”
AP prefers a period followed by a space, three adjoined ellipses, and another space.4
Truncated: “The cat expert teaches cat guardians important skills such as how to trim their cat’s nails. … These skills help cat guardians avoid unnecessary vet bills.”
Garner’s Modern American Usage, which is a usage guide rather than a style guide, recommends using four equally spaced points (with the last one acting as a period) if the omitted text originally appeared at the end of the first quoted sentence.
Original: “The cat expert teaches cat guardians important skills such as how to trim their cat’s nails and how to safely load their cat into a travel carrier. These skills help cat guardians avoid unnecessary vet bills.”
Truncated: “The cat expert teaches cat guardians important skill such as how to trim their cat’s nails . . . . These skills help cat guardians avoid unnecessary vet bills.”
However, if the omitted text represents one or more complete sentences (but not a whole paragraph) between the quoted sentences, Garner recommends the same format suggested by Chicago, MLA, and APA, which is a period followed by three equally spaced ellipses.5
Original: “The cat expert teaches cat guardians important skills such as how to trim their cat’s nails and how to safely load their cat into a travel carrier. He also demonstrates safe hair brushing techniques. These skills help cat guardians avoid unnecessary vet bills.”
Truncated: “The cat expert teaches cat guardians important skills such as how to trim their cat’s nails and how to safely place their cat in a travel carrier. . . . These skills help cat guardians avoid unnecessary vet bills.”
I prefer to follow Chicago, MLA, and APA on this issue because I believe that their simplified ellipsis format is more widely accepted than Garner’s format—and therefore, it’s less likely to be misinterpreted as a typo. However, if you don’t follow one of the primary style guides mentioned, or if you’re in the process of creating your own in-house style guide, Garner’s format is certainly worth considering because it creates an effective distinction between a partial sentence omission and a complete sentence omission.
Come back soon for “How to Use Ellipses, Part 2: Ellipses between Quoted Paragraphs.” Until then, stay on point!
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1. The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2010), 13.48; MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing, 3rd ed. (New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2008), 128; Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th ed. (Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2010), 172–73.
2. David Minthorn, Sally Jacobsen, and Paula Froke, eds., Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law 2015 (New York: Basic Books, 2015), 301.
3. Chicago Manual of Style, 13.51; MLA Style Manual, 128–29; Publication Manual, 172–73.
4. Minthorn, Jacobsen, and Froke, Associated Press Stylebook, 301.
5. Bryan A. Garner, Garner’s Modern American Usage, 3rd ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009), 690.
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