No, the topic of this week’s post isn’t Morse code but the punctuation mark properly known as ‘the three-dot ellipsis’ but more commonly known as “dot dot dot”. This simple, but oh-so-useful, device is used to denote missing words or thoughts. Sometimes this may be a single swear word as in “Get the … out of here!” Often, it is used to indicate an unfinished thought – “Melanie wondered whether this blog would be helpful or…” It can also be used to signify a time lapse. For instance, “She wrote the e-mail yesterday… only later did she realise it had not been sent.”
The three-dot ellipsis can also be deployed to suggest an implied quote or phrase the reader is expected to know or as a literary device to indicate disjointed speech. But I think you’ll agree, however use them, these three humble dots come in very handy!
