Page 2 | Ellipses

TonTonMacoute · 19/01/2026 11:18

PassportPanicFuuuck · 18/01/2026 20:40

Frankly, if it's not used correctly - so that the reader recognises what it implies - what is the point of using it at all? (In fact what is the point of language if what we say/write doesn't have a consistent meaning that can be reliably interpreted by the listener/reader?)

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Well of course it's about communication and being understood. Punctuation should aid comprehension, nothing more IMO. It should be almost invisible in fact.

DH is a commercial contracts manager so is pretty hot on punctuation. There was a case in the US recently regarding the use (or rather omission) of an Oxford comma which significantly changed the terms of a contract. Of course in my day (1980s) when I was doing a secretarial course at Pitmans College we were taught how to type legal documents, and at that time the only punctuation marks used were the full stops at the end of a sentence. This forced the person drafting it to ensure that the meaning was clear and could not be given more than one interpretation.

We also had to fill in any gaps at the end of a line with hyphens, so nothing could be added later, so technically full tops and hyphens were the only punctuation allowed.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 18/01/2026 21:22

PassportPanicFuuuck · 18/01/2026 20:40

Frankly, if it's not used correctly - so that the reader recognises what it implies - what is the point of using it at all? (In fact what is the point of language if what we say/write doesn't have a consistent meaning that can be reliably interpreted by the listener/reader?)

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Well, it does slow down the pace so that a reader can take a breath. It's better than additional points or questions - minus the necessarily enclosed question mark, by the way - stuck between parentheses and missing any comma or other punctuation that would make the question easy to read out loud without gasping for air by the end...

Di2071 · 18/01/2026 21:15

PendantScorner · 18/01/2026 20:43

I. Passionately. Hate. One. Word. Sentences.

But ‘No’ is a complete sentence! 😆

PurpleCyclamen · 18/01/2026 21:15

You want to try reading the work my Yr 6s produce in English lessons…

saltinesandcoffeecups · 18/01/2026 21:13

I was really just being a smartass…but yeah although I do like a good haiku 😁

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PassportPanicFuuuck · 18/01/2026 21:11

PendantScorner · 18/01/2026 21:01

@saltinesandcoffeecups . Yes is OK. It's the sentences that are written with a full stop after each word that annoy me.

Also annoying is only ever having one short sentence per paragraph as if you're writing a bloody haiku.

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Barrellturn · 18/01/2026 21:08

My DS talks in dramatic (dum dum duuuum) ellipses.

"Mrs teacherwoman said if we were good tomorrow we could have DUM DUM DUUUUUM 5 minutes more time at break!"

In fairness it does bring a certain theatre to an otherwise mundane conversation. I might try it at DUM DUM DUUUUUM work.

Doingtheboxerbeat · 18/01/2026 21:06

I use them quite a lot because I'm a passive aggressive b!tch and I need that reflected in my sentences.
I hear it's a boomer/Gen x thing according to SM, but I'm not going to be bullied into changing language just because others don't know what it means 😉 .

PendantScorner · 18/01/2026 21:01

@saltinesandcoffeecups . Yes is OK. It's the sentences that are written with a full stop after each word that annoy me.

macshoto · 18/01/2026 20:58

Sparingly used… I think an occasional ellipsis has its place. Used as you have done in your OP they are clearly annoying. No more than one per paragraph would be my normal approach, which I don’t think is excessive.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 18/01/2026 20:50

PendantScorner · 18/01/2026 20:43

I. Passionately. Hate. One. Word. Sentences.

Yes.

PendantScorner · 18/01/2026 20:43

I. Passionately. Hate. One. Word. Sentences.

Original poster

PassportPanicFuuuck · 18/01/2026 20:40

TonTonMacoute · 18/01/2026 13:50

It would annoy me, but I have never seen it.

I use them quite a lot, but I like punctuation to be used correctly.

Frankly, if it's not used correctly - so that the reader recognises what it implies - what is the point of using it at all? (In fact what is the point of language if what we say/write doesn't have a consistent meaning that can be reliably interpreted by the listener/reader?)

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Original poster

PassportPanicFuuuck · 18/01/2026 20:37

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 18/01/2026 13:55

You Think That's Bad? I Know Someone Who Capitalises Every Single Word. It Does My Nut In, And It's Surely Just More Work For Them!

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That would make me murderous. Did they have a particular aversion to the works of e e cummings?

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PassportPanicFuuuck · 18/01/2026 20:34

Mischance · 18/01/2026 20:20

They are used more now because people type on their phones and it is easier to use dots then look for other punctuation marks.

You're probably right, but I used to work with someone who used them all the time in work emails (which he was typing on his desktop).

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Mischance · 18/01/2026 20:20

They are used more now because people type on their phones and it is easier to use dots then look for other punctuation marks.

TamarindCottage · 18/01/2026 17:00

Mischance · 18/01/2026 16:03

Language .... written and spoken ... develops over time! 😀😂

Ellipses have only three dots and a space before and after. HTH …

Mischance · 18/01/2026 16:03

Language .... written and spoken ... develops over time! 😀😂

LyndaSnellsSniff · 18/01/2026 13:59

I like an ellipse and always sigh a little when someone uses too many dots.

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 18/01/2026 13:55

PassportPanicFuuuck · 18/01/2026 12:49

Why... do some... people... write everything... in a sort of... stream of... consciousness... way like this... instead of using... actual... punctuation...? Does anyone else... find it... really... annoying?

Surely it also takes longer to type?

(Yes, I know I'll probably be sent off to Pedants' Corner.)

You Think That's Bad? I Know Someone Who Capitalises Every Single Word. It Does My Nut In, And It's Surely Just More Work For Them!

TonTonMacoute · 18/01/2026 13:50

It would annoy me, but I have never seen it.

I use them quite a lot, but I like punctuation to be used correctly.

Di2071 · 18/01/2026 13:46

Ive always thought it’s just lazy punctuating like when texting. Not as annoying as “Dear Reader” style sentences. My personal bugbear is the question and answer: e.g. Does it hurt you if someone overuses ellipses? No. Is it irritating? Yes.

Original poster

PassportPanicFuuuck · 18/01/2026 13:26

Actually I saw something even worse the other day. Someone typed a full stop after every question mark (of which there were many). WTAF?.

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PassportPanicFuuuck · 18/01/2026 13:25

DizziLizzy · 18/01/2026 13:10

I... like... using... them...who does it hurt......

Me. It pains me deeply.

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PassportPanicFuuuck · 18/01/2026 13:25

PotteryChuck · 18/01/2026 13:12

I love a well-placed ellipsis...

Well-placed punctuation is all good in my book.

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