What are the three periods called?
Sarah Scott
Updated on May 30, 2026
An ellipsis ( ... ) consists of three evenly spaced periods and is used to indicate the omission of words or suggest an incomplete thought. In general, an ellipsis should be treated as a three-letter word, with a space, three periods and a space.
What do three periods mean?
Ellipsis points are periods in groups of usually three, or sometimes four. They signal either that something has been omitted from quoted text, or that a speaker or writer has paused or trailed off in speech or thought. That's the basics.How do you use ellipses?
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. They are useful in getting right to the point without delay or distraction: Full quotation: "Today, after hours of careful thought, we vetoed the bill."Is an ellipsis always 3 dots?
The Chicago Manual of Style calls for spaces between every ellipsis point. The AP Stylebook says to treat the ellipsis as a three-letter word, with spaces on either side of the ellipsis but no spaces between the dots. You can use either style; just be consistent throughout your document.What ellipsis means?
Definition of ellipsis1a : the omission of one or more words that are obviously understood but that must be supplied to make a construction grammatically complete. b : a sudden leap from one topic to another. 2 : marks or a mark (such as … ) indicating an omission (as of words) or a pause.