Ellipsis Omission

What is the definition of ellipsis?

• Ellipsis is a type of bird

• Ellipsis is a type of musical instrument

• Ellipsis is a punctuation mark used to indicate the omission of words or phrases in a sentence.

• Ellipsis is a type of flower

Which of the following is an example of ellipsis?

• Using an exclamation mark at the end of a sentence.

• Repeating the same word multiple times in a sentence.

• Omitting words or phrases that are not necessary for understanding.

• Including all the details in a summary.

What are the rules for using ellipsis?

• The rules for using ellipsis are: 1. Use three consecutive periods (…) with a space before and after to indicate the omission of words or a pause in speech. 2. Use ellipsis to indicate a trailing off or unfinished thought. 3. Use ellipsis to indicate a pause or hesitation in dialogue. 4. Use ellipsis to indicate an intentional omission of words in a quote. 5. Avoid using ellipsis at the beginning or end of a sentence unless it is necessary for clarity or emphasis.

• Use four consecutive periods (....) to indicate the omission of words or a pause in speech.

• Ellipsis should only be used in formal writing.

• Ellipsis can be used interchangeably with a comma or semicolon.

What is the purpose of using ellipsis in writing?

• To indicate the omission of words or a trailing off of thought in writing.

• To separate paragraphs in writing

• To emphasize a point in writing

• To indicate a question in writing

Select the answer choice that correctly uses an ellipsis to omit the underlined words in the sentence. 

The factory workers, producing tanks for the war effort, worked many hours of overtime. 

• The factory workers . . . worked many hours of overtime. 

• The factory workers worked many hours of overtime. 

• The factory workers, . . . worked many hours of overtime. 

• The factory workers, . . . , worked many hours of overtime. 

Select the answer choice that correctly uses an ellipsis to omit the underlined words in the sentence.
According to Dr. Pandharipande, "Each and every person deserves equal rights."

• According to Dr. Pandharipande, "every person deserves equal rights."

• According to Dr. Pandharipande, ". . . every person deserves equal rights."

• According to Dr. Pandharipande . . . every person deserves equal rights."

• According to Dr. Pandharipande, "[. . .] every person deserves equal rights."

Which sentence(s) used an ellipsis the correct way?
If only she had . . . Oh, it doesn’t matter now.
I wasn’t really . . . well, what I mean . . . see, the thing is . . . I didn’t mean it.
She opened the door . . . and saw . . . a cake!

• and C

• just B

• none of them

• all of them

True or False: Ellipsis is used to omit unnecessary words or phrases in a sentence.

• False, ellipsis is used to add unnecessary words or phrases in a sentence

• True

• True, ellipsis is used to indicate a question

• False, ellipsis is used to separate two independent clauses

Which of the following is a common mistake with ellipsis?

• Using ellipsis to replace a word

• Using three dots instead of two

• Using too many or too few dots

• Using ellipsis in the middle of a sentence

Fill in the blank: Ellipsis is indicated by using ________.

• ....

• ..

• .....

• ...