2.1.3 Ellipses

An ellipsis indicates that material has been omitted from a quotation. Use the single ellipsis character … (ctrl + alt + . or alt 0133 on a Windows-based computer; option + ; on a standard Macintosh keyboard) rather than three typed periods. When the ellipsis falls within a sentence, place a space before and after it.

  • Correct: “Who am I, and what shall be the sign? … Thou knowest!”
  • Incorrect: “Who am I, and what shall be the sign?…Thou knowest!”

When a complete sentence is followed by omitted material, place the sentence punctuation first, followed immediately by the ellipsis. Then add a space before the next sentence.

  • Correct: “Every man and every woman is a star.… The Khabs is in the Khu, not the Khu in the Khabs.”
  • Incorrect: “Every man and every woman is a star. … The Khabs is in the Khu, not the Khu in the Khabs.”
  • Incorrect: “Every man and every woman is a star.…The Khabs is in the Khu, not the Khu in the Khabs.”

When the omitted material comes immediately before punctuation that belongs to the original quotation, the ellipsis is followed directly by that punctuation.

  • Correct: “These are fools that men adore ….”
  • Incorrect: “These are fools that men adore… .”

When the original punctuation comes before the omission, place the punctuation first, then a space, then the ellipsis.

  • Correct: “Yea! deem not of change: ye shall be as ye are, & not other. … There is none that shall be cast down or lifted up: all is ever as it was.”
  • Incorrect: “Yea! deem not of change: ye shall be as ye are, & not other.… There is none that shall be cast down or lifted up: all is ever as it was.”

Avoid using an ellipsis at the beginning of a quotation, even if the quotation begins in the middle of a sentence. In most cases, the reader can infer that the quotation has a larger context. Likewise, do not place an ellipsis at the end of a quotation unless the incompleteness is intentional and meaningful.

  • Incorrect: “… Love all, lest perchance is a King concealed!”
  • Correct: “Love all, lest perchance is a King concealed!”

Minor capitalization changes may be made so the quotation fits the surrounding sentence. These changes do not normally need to be marked, though brackets may be used if the change should be visible.

  • Correct: “Let us only remember not to repeat the error of Jason … But to the glory of Ra-Hoor-Khuit and the establishment of His perfect kingdom let all be done!”
  • Correct: “Let us only remember not to repeat the error of Jason … [B]ut to the glory of Ra-Hoor-Khuit and the establishment of His perfect kingdom let all be done!"

For fuller guidance on ellipses, consult CMS17, §13.50–58.