Authors can use an ellipsis primarily for the following purposes:
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To create a dramatic effect: An ellipsis can create suspense or indicate an unfinished thought, allowing the reader to pause and reflect on what has been said.
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To indicate omitted material: In quotations, an ellipsis is often used to show that something has been left out from the original text.
However, an ellipsis is not typically used:
- To end a sentence: While it can appear at the end of a sentence, it serves more to indicate that something has been left unsaid rather than as a definitive end.
- To separate items in a list: Ellipses are not used for this purpose; commas or semicolons are typically employed instead.
- To introduce dialogue: Usually, quotation marks are used for dialogue, not ellipses.
In summary, the primary purpose of an ellipsis is to create suspense or indicate omitted text, rather than the other options listed.
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