Ellipses
English Language: KS3, topic 2.1.15
Ellipses
An ellipsis (…) is used to imply that a word, a sentence or a whole section from a text has been deliberately left out. Ellipses can also be used to create pauses in a sentence.
Remove unnecessary information
- An ellipsis can be used to show that the beginning of a sentence has been left out.
- E.g. ‘…we arrived after the movie began.’
- The use of an ellipsis at the beginning of a sentence shows something happens before what you read.
- The beginning of the sentence was removed because the words after the ellipsis contain the most important information.
To suggest there is more to know
- An ellipsis can be used to suggest that there is more to an idea than the writer is telling you.
- An ellipsis is normally used to suggest there is more to an idea at the end of a paragraph or story.
- E.g. ‘Suddenly John turned, and what he saw changed him forever…’
To cut down a quote
- Some quotes can be quite long.
- You can begin a quote and then use an ellipsis to remove the less important parts of the quote.
- E.g. 'Darwin wrote about his Theory of Evolution...in 1859.'
To cut down a quote example
- ‘The instruments of darkness…to betray us in deepest consequence.’
- The beginning of the quote is important.
- The end of the quote is important.
- The middle of the quote is NOT as important.
- The ellipsis shows there is more to the quote, but the information is NOT important.
To express hesitation
- An ellipsis can be used to show hesitation.
- E.g. ‘I don’t know…where they are.’
- E.g. ‘I….don't…want…to.’
Test yourself on Ellipses
Which of these is an ellipsis?
What is the effect of the ellipsis in this sentence?
‘I don’t know…where they are.’What is the effect of the ellipsis in this sentence?
__‘I slowly opened the creaky door. The room was empty...’ __