what does ellipsis (...) indicate in a document

Answer 1

An ellipsis, represented by three consecutive dots (...), serves several purposes in a document:

1. Omission of Text: It indicates that some text has been removed from a quote or excerpt. This is common in academic writing or literature when the full quote is too long or not entirely relevant.

2. Unfinished Thoughts: It can show that a thought or sentence is incomplete, implying that more could be added or allowing the reader to infer meaning without spelling it out.

3. Pause or Hesitation: In dialogue or narrative, an ellipsis may convey a pause or hesitation in speech, adding a dramatic or reflective tone to the text.

4. Trailing Off: It can indicate that a speaker's voice trails off, suggesting a lack of resolution or uncertainty.

Overall, the specific meaning of an ellipsis depends on the context in which it is used.