RuleAn ellipsis marks an omission in quoted material, a hesitation, or a thought that trails off unfinished. It isn’t a stand-in for an abrupt interruption.

Omission in quoted material:

Original → We will lower taxes, increase school funding, and cut crime by twenty percent.”

Shortened →The mayor promised to “lower taxes . . . and cut crime by twenty percent.”

Omission in quoted material with a complete sentence:

→ When the omission follows a complete sentence, keep the period on that sentence, then add the spaced ellipsis after it. That gives you four dots total, not a special fourth mark.

Example →  “Sales rose in every region except the Midwest. . . . Analysts expect the trend to continue into next year.”

Trailing off:

“I was going to tell you, but . . . ”

Hesitation:

“I don’t know . . .  maybe.”

Interruption (not trailing off, so it takes an em dash instead):

→ If the speaker fades out on their own, use an ellipsis. If someone or something cuts them off, including themselves, use an em dash.

Example → “I was going to tell you—” “Don’t.”

Styling It

1. Chicago style spaces each of the three periods with a nonbreaking space, then adds a space before and after the group.

All the examples above followed Chicago style, which is the standard in book publishing. However, if an author has a preference, it’s fine to not use Chicago styling for ellipses.

2. Most other style guides group the three periods with no space between them, then add a single space before and after the group. Some authors prefer only the space after the ellipses.

Examples of other styling

She reached for the doorknob … then stopped.

He read the message twice, set the phone down… and picked it right back up.

Practice

Add ellipses (or an em dash, where one fits better) based on how the dialogue is said (noted in parenthesis). Style it however you want. The answers are in Chicago style, but it’s fine to style it differently

“Maybe if I just explained well, everything he’d understand.” (trailing off in middle)“I don’t know.” She stared at the floor. (hesitation)“Wait I think I hear something.” (trailing off in the begining)“If I could just find the right words.” (unfinished thought)“I love you, but.” “Don’t say it. I get it.”The company failed to report the leak, ignored regulator warnings, and continued operations for six more months. (delete a part of the quote for omission)We marched for three days, ran short on rations, and finally reached the river. (some content is omitted here.) I’d do it again; it was worth it.AnswersMaybe if I just explained . . . well, everything he’d understand.“I don’t know . . . ” She stared at the floor.“Wait . . . I think I hear something.”“If I could just find the right words . . . ”“I love you, but—” (em dash, not ellipsis, since she was cut off)The company failed to report the leak . . . and continued operations for six more months.”“We marched for three days ran short on rations, and finally reached the river. . . . I’d do it again; it was worth it.”