Using Ellipsis

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.

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

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

An ellipsis is used to ___.

• shorten a quoted passage by omitting words or phrases

• pause or hesitate in the middle of a sentence

• indicate an incomplete thought

• all answers are correct

A reviewer wrote that the musical was "dazzling, colorful, 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?

• A critic wrote that the musical was "dazzling, colorful, and beautifully performed. . . ."

• A critic wrote that the musical was "dazzling, colorful, . . . and beautifully performed."

• A  critic wrote that the musical was "dazzling, colorful, and beautifully . . . performed."

• A critic wrote that . . . the musical was "dazzling, colorful, and beautifully performed."

An ellipsis is used to ___.

• shorten a quoted passage by omitting  words or phrases

• pause or hesitate in the middle of a sentence

• indicate an incomplete thought

• all answers are correct

An ellipsis (...) should be used to...

• show a pause or trailing off in speech.

• show that something has been left out of a quote.

• create a dramatic break in a sentence.

• show a range in time

Why is the ellipsis used in this sentence?

• pause or hesitation

• an unfinished thought

• missing words from a quotation

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