An author might use an ellipsis to omit words from a quote for several reasons:
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Conciseness: To make a quote shorter and more focused on the relevant part, allowing for a clearer understanding of the main idea without unnecessary detail.
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Relevance: To exclude information that is not pertinent to the argument or context in which the quote is being used, thus improving the flow of the writing.
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Clarity: To eliminate words that might be confusing or distracting, ensuring that the reader can easily grasp the intended message.
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Maintain Voice: To fit the quote more seamlessly into the author's own writing style and voice, making the overall text more cohesive.
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Avoid Misrepresentation: When editing a quote, authors must be careful to maintain the original meaning. An ellipsis can be used judiciously to omit parts while still conveying the author's intent.
It is essential, however, that the use of an ellipsis does not distort the original meaning of the quote, as this could mislead readers.
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