How do you use an ellipsis to indicate a pause or break?

For example:

Marion cried and cried…and then cried some more.

In this lesson you will learn how to use an ellipsis by asking yourself about the meaning you’re trying to

communicate.

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Comma for pause or break

Ellipsis for pause or break

Dash for pause or break

Ellipsis for omission

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The ellipsis looks like this…

You may hear people say:“dot, dot, dot.”

The plural of ellipsis is ellipses.

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

Pause that indicates the passage of time.

Marion cried and cried…and cried some more.

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

An unfinished thought or utterance in dialogue.

“I’ve been thinking…” Sandra said, absentmindedly.

Let’s ReviewCore LessonAsk, “Will my pause show the passage of time or some unfinished thought?”1

2 Ask, “Will the pause appear in the middle of a sentence or at the end of an unfinished thought?”

3Insert the ellipsis leaving spaces on either side of the ellipsis in mid-sentence or just before the ellipsis at the sentence end.

Let’s ReviewCore LessonAsk, “Will my pause show the passage of time or some unfinished thought?” 1Marion cried and cried and then cried

some more. Uhm, I really want to show that she was

crying for a long time.

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

2 Ask, “Will the pause appear in the middle of the sentence of at the end of an unfinished thought?”

Marion cried and cried and then cried some more.

Well, the thought is complete, so I’ll put it

in the middle.

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3 Insert the ellipsis either leaving spaces on either side of the ellipsis in mid-sentence or just before the ellipsis at the end.

Marion cried and cried … and then cried some more.

Ok, in the middle with a space on

each side.

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Time and the ellipsis.

“I was uhm … wondering if you’d like to go the dance on Friday.” stammered Phillip nervously.Days later … we finally heard back from the management office.

Let’s ReviewCore LessonAsk, “Will my pause show the passage of time or some unfinished thought?” 1

“I’ve been thinking.” Sandra said, absentmindedly.

Uhm, I really want to show that she never

really finished saying what she was thinking

about.

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2 Ask, “Will the pause appear in the middle of the sentence of at the end of an unfinished thought?”“I’ve been thinking.” Sandra said,

absentmindedly.It would be at the end

of her unfinished thought.

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3 Insert the ellipsis leaving spaces on either side of the ellipsis in mid-sentence or just before the ellipsis at the end.

“I’ve been thinking …” Sandra said absentmindedly.

Ok, at the end of her thought with a space before.

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

The ellipsis is especially useful to show a pause or break in dialogue.

The ellipsis can appear in the middle of a sentence or at the end.

In this lesson you have learned how to use an ellipsis by asking yourself about the meaning you’re trying to

communicate.

Let’s ReviewGuided PracticeCopy the following sentences and add an ellipsis when appropriate. 1. “Have you ever wondered” Margaret began. “Oh, never mind.”2. We waited and waited and waited for what seemed like forever.3. “Let me see where did I put that library book?” Mark asked as he looked under his bed.

Let’s ReviewGuided Practice

Copy the following sentences and add an ellipsis when appropriate. 1. A full year later she finally came to a decision.2. “Hey, have you seen my? Never mind I found it.”3. “Jason, uhm this is hard to say, but I can’t go on Saturday.”

Let’s ReviewExtension Activities

• Get into groups of three or four.• As a group come up with a scene in which at least one character stops his dialogue and another one takes pauses.•Write the dialogue as a team and pay close attention to your use of ellipses.•Make sure every group member has at least one line of dialogue.• Practice your lines, so you can present your scene before you turn the script into your teacher.

• and Describe one extension activity here…

Start and stop scenario

Let’s ReviewExtension ActivitiesI thought it would NEVER end• Think about a time when you thought a experience was going on and on… and on. Maybe you were waiting for something, practicing for something or going through a hard time. • Describe the experience in a paragraph, including a sentence with an ellipsis to show the passage of time.• If you can’t think of a real situation, you can be creative.

Let’s ReviewQuick Quiz

Copy the following sentences and add an ellipsis when appropriate.1. Angela tried and tried and tried all day,

but she could not do the back hand spring.

2. “Let me think about it uhm no.”3. “You’ll never guess.”Jacob stopped. “Oh, I

guess you already know.”