Ellipsis
Leaving out words the reader can fill in, and the three dots that show a pause.
The answer
Ellipsis means leaving out words the reader can work out for themselves; the same name is used for the three dots (…) that show a pause or missing words.
Examples
Sam wanted to go swimming, but Ella didn’t.
The words want to go swimming are left out after didn’t, and the reader fills them in.
Where are you going? To school!
I’m going is left out of the answer: the glossary’s own kind of example.
Leo likes apples and Mia bananas.
Likes is left out of the second part.
The door creaked open… and then there was silence.
The three-dot mark, used for a pause.
How to spot it
- Ask whether a word or phrase has been left out that you can fill in from earlier in the sentence.
- In writing, three dots (…) show a pause, a sentence trailing off, or words missing from a quotation.
- There are always three dots: not two, not five.
The common mistake
Using three dots at the end of every sentence.
Used once at the right moment, an ellipsis builds suspense. Used everywhere, it stops meaning anything.
When it is taught
- First met
- Year 6
- On the pupil word list
- Year 6, as “ellipsis”
Year 6 names ellipsis and uses it as one of the cohesive devices that link ideas. The national curriculum glossary defines ellipsis as leaving out a word or phrase that is expected and predictable. The three-dot mark is usually taught alongside it.
Try a question
Which word has been left out of this sentence?
Leo likes apples and Mia bananas.
Show the answer
Answer: likes: Leo likes apples and Mia likes bananas.
The verb is only written once, because the reader can work out that it applies to Mia too.
Related terms
More grammar terms
Questions parents ask
Is ellipsis grammar or punctuation?
Both. In grammar it means leaving out predictable words. In punctuation it is the name of the three-dot mark (…).
Does a sentence ending in an ellipsis need a full stop?
No. At the end of a sentence, the three dots are enough.
Why does ellipsis help writing?
Leaving out words the reader already knows avoids repetition and ties sentences together, which is why the curriculum counts it as a cohesive device.
Grammar turns up in 11+ English too
Many 11+ English papers include grammar and punctuation questions alongside comprehension. The free diagnostic checks maths, English and both kinds of reasoning, and shows what to practise next. No card is required.