Use Ellipses Appropriately

Three periods in the middle of a quote (. . .) is called:

• Apostrophe

• Diagram

• Possessive

• Page break

• Ellipsis

Our teacher told us, "Andrew Lloyd Webber is a famous composer whose spectacularly interpreted stage version of Phantom of the Opera draws huge crowds."

Which of the following shows how the author could correctly use an ellipsis to shorten the quote?

• Our teacher told us, "Andrew Lloyd Webber is a famous composer whose version of Phantom of the Opera draws huge crowds. . . ."

• Our teacher told us, "Andrew Lloyd Webber is a famous composer whose version of Phantom of the Opera. . .draws huge crowds."

• Our teacher told us, . . . "Andrew Lloyd Webber is a famous composer whose version of Phantom of the Opera draws huge crowds."

• Our teacher told us, "Andrew Lloyd Webber is a famous composer whose . . . version of Phantom of the Opera draws huge crowds."

One reviewer wrote that the musical was "dazzling, colorful, and beautifully performed and had many outstanding special effects."
Which of the following shows how the author could correctly use an ellipsis to shorten the quote?

• One reviewer wrote that the musical was "dazzling, colorful, and beautifully performed. . . ."
• One reviewer wrote that the musical was "dazzling, colorful, . . . and beautifully performed."
• One reviewer wrote that the musical was "dazzling, colorful, and beautifully . . . performed."
• One reviewer wrote that . . . the musical was "dazzling, colorful, and beautifully performed."

"I can't wait to see Phantom of the Opera on Broadway this June. The tickets are expensive but worth it," said Jo.

Which of the following shows how the author could correctly use an ellipsis to shorten the quote?

• "I can't wait to see Phantom of the Opera. The tickets are expensive . . . but worth it," said Jo.

• "I can't wait to see Phantom of the Opera. . . . The tickets are expensive but worth it," said Jo.

• "I can't wait to see Phantom of the Opera. The tickets are expensive but worth it . . . ," said Jo.

• "I can't wait . . . to see Phantom of the Opera. The tickets are expensive but worth it," said Jo.

Ellipses are used for

• decoration.
• adding extra periods to a sentence.
• adding extra information to a sentence.
• pauses or leaving out parts of a quote.

The first Godzilla movie was made in Japan in 1954. The film was released in the United States two years later and was a huge hit there.

Is this an appropriate use of ellipsis for this sentence?

"The first Godzilla movie was made in Japan in 1954. The film . . . was a huge hit there."

• Yes

• No

"Halley's Comet, named after English astronomer Edmund Halley, can be seen from Earth once every seventy-five years."

Which option is an appropriate way to use ellipsis with this quote?

• "Halley's Comet...Edmund Halley, can be seen from Earth once every seventy-five years."

• "...Halley's Comet, named after English astronomer Edmund Halley, can be seen from Earth once every seventy-five years."

• "Halley's Comet . . . can be seen from Earth once every seventy-five years."

• "Halley's Comet, named after English astronomer Edmund Halley...seen from Earth."

Golfer Nancy Lopez, a twenty-one-year-old rookie, beat JoAnne Carner on the first hole of a sudden death playoff at the Coca-Cola Classic in 1978.

Which of the options is an acceptable way to use ellipsis in the following sentences?

• "Golfer Nancy Lopez, a twenty-one-year-old rookie, beat JoAnne Carner . . . at the Coca-Cola Classic in 1978."

• "Golfer Nancy Lopez, a twenty-one-year-old rookie, beat JoAnne Carner on the first hole . . . at the Coca-Cola Classic in 1978."

• "Golfer Nancy Lopez.. . . beat JoAnne Carner . . . at the Coca-Cola Classic in 1978."

• All of the above

• None of the above

On May 25, 1977, Star Wars opened in theaters and wowed audiences with groundbreaking special effects.

Which of the following is an acceptable way to use ellipsis in the sentence?

• "On May 25, 1977, Star Wars . . . with groundbreaking special effects."

• "On May 25, 1977, Star Wars opened in theaters . . . with groundbreaking special effects."

• "On May 25, 1977, Star Wars opened in theaters and wowed audiences with groundbreaking special effects . . ."

• All of the above

• None of the above

After a 1956 concert at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz, California, local authorities banned rock and roll at public gatherings.

Does the following sentence include a proper use of ellipsis?

"After a 1956 concert . . . at the Santa Cruz, California, local authorities banned rock and roll at public gatherings."

• Yes

• No