Why would an author use an ellipsis to omit words from a quote

Answer 1

An author may use an ellipsis to omit words from a quote for several reasons:

1. Condensing: The author might want to condense a lengthy quote by removing certain parts that are not directly relevant to the point being made. This allows them to present the essential information more concisely.

2. Irrelevant information: Sometimes, the author may omit words or phrases that are not essential to the overall meaning of the quote. By leaving out this information, they can focus on the crucial elements that are relevant to their argument or discussion.

3. Removing repetition: If a quote contains repetitive words or phrases, the author may choose to remove the repeated parts to avoid redundancy and maintain the flow and readability of their own writing.

4. Controversial or sensitive content: If a quote contains offensive, controversial, or sensitive content, an author might omit those words to avoid propagating harmful ideas or to maintain the tone and appropriateness of their own work. By using an ellipsis, they can tactfully omit this content while still conveying the main idea.

Overall, the use of an ellipsis allows authors to selectively omit non-essential parts of a quote without altering the intended meaning significantly. It helps them tailor the quote to better fit their own writing style and purpose.