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When used in casual conversation, ellipses connote hesitation, confusion, and apathy — they’re the most passive-aggressive of all the punctuation marks.
Are ellipses rude?
Not that ellipses are rude, but they do distort the meaning. Some have said that we use ellipses as a way to try to capture the way we speak, with the pauses, lingering and start-and-stop quality of verbal exchanges.
Is dot dot dot passive-aggressive?
It’s wry, knowing, suggestive, self-deprecating or passive-aggressive. It stands for everything that is unsaid but implied.
When should you not use an ellipsis?
Here are five ways not to use an ellipsis. Using them … like a written ‘erm’ … Trailing off in the middle of sentences in spoken conversation is common and almost unavoidable. Trailing off for no reason … Three is the magic number. Omitting crucial parts of a quotation. Implying you have more to say when you haven’t.
What does ellipses mean in texting?
Using ellipses in a text is your way of saying what you either can’t say yet (because it’d fall under the “too soon” umbrella), or what you are afraid to say (because you’re afraid you’ll seem disagreeable or high maintenance).
Are ellipses flirty?
The ellipsis, a row of three dots, stands for an omitted section of text. But much can be conveyed by omission. It asks the receiver of the message to fill in the text, and in that way is very coy and potentially flirty.
Are ellipses sarcastic?
Recommended. Researchers noted that the two emoticons and the ellipses made the literal messages more sarcastic to the reader. The winking face was also found to intensify the sarcasm, whether it was positively or negatively.
What does dot dot dot mean at the end of a sentence?
Those little dots often found in a sentence or quote are called an ellipsis. The term ellipsis comes from the Greek word meaning ‘omission,’ and that’s just what it does: an ellipsis shows that something has been left out.
What does dot dot dot mean in texting?
The ellipsis , . . ., or (as a single glyph) …, also known informally as dot-dot-dot, is a series of (usually three) dots that indicates an intentional omission of a word, sentence, or whole section from a text without altering its original meaning.
Are three dots passive-aggressive?
When used in casual conversation, ellipses connote hesitation, confusion, and apathy — they’re the most passive-aggressive of all the punctuation marks.
What does 3 periods mean in texting?
An ellipsis (plural: ellipses) is a series of – in our case and typically – 3 dots that usually indicates an intentional omission of a word, sentence, or whole section from a text without altering its original meaning. It may also imply an unstated meaning within the proper context.
What does 4 dots mean at the end of a sentence?
But if you want to really impress your grammar-freak friends, try the four-dot ellipsis on for size. This elusive punctuation mark is used at the end of a sentence, often in dialogue, when it follows a grammatically complete sentence. It usually indicates that you’re omitting a sentence and skipping to the next.
Can you use an ellipsis at the beginning of a sentence?
Do not use an ellipsis at the beginning or end of a quoted passage unless necessary for clarity. An ellipsis should be considered a “unit” of punctuation; therefore, the three (or four) periods must always be kept together. A period follows the sentence that precedes an ellipsis at the beginning of the next line.
What does 4 dots in a text mean?
What does 4 dots in a text mean? It means “we’ll see, end of discussion for now.”.
Why do ellipses have 3 dots?
Those three little dots are called an ellipsis (plural: ellipses). The term ellipsis comes from the Greek word meaning “omission,” and that’s just what an ellipsis does—it shows that something has been left out. When you’re quoting someone, you can use an ellipsis to show that you’ve omitted some of their words.
What are some examples of ellipsis?
Use an ellipsis to show an omission, or leaving out, of a word or words in a quote. Use ellipses to shorten the quote without changing the meaning. For example: “After school I went to her house, which was a few blocks away, and then came home.”.
Are exclamation points flirty?
1 | Punctuation: Exclamation point! Because when you start overusing it, you look like an overeager, un-confident amateur. However, when used properly, an exclamation point can set a light, flirtatious tone… can convey excitement… and can even demonstrate interest in the person.
When should ellipses be used?
An ellipsis () is a set of three periods that indicates the omission of words from quoted material, hesitation, or trailing off in dialogue or train of thought. An ellipsis should have spaces before, between, and after the periods.
How do you end a sentence with an ellipsis?
When a quotation ends with an ellipsis When the ellipsis coincides with the end of your sentence, use three periods with a space before each following a sentence period–that is, four periods, with no space before the first or after the last.
How do you use ellipses correctly?
Definition. An ellipsis (plural: ellipses) is a punctuation mark consisting of three dots. Use an ellipsis when omitting a word, phrase, line, paragraph, or more from a quoted passage. Ellipses save space or remove material that is less relevant.
What are the 3 dots at the end of a sentence called?
You see those dots? All three together constitute an ellipsis. The plural form of the word is ellipses, as in “a writer who uses a lot of ellipses.” They also go by the following names: ellipsis points, points of ellipsis, suspension points. We’re opting for ellipsis points here, just to make things crystal clear.
