Lurking in the Ellipses

You know that moment. Your thought has trailed off. You leave the sentence open-ended. It might suggest an idea not fully formed. Or imply an awkward silence. On the other hand…

I have a confession to make. I’ve always been rather partial to a well-placed ellipsis. The three dots that closed the previous paragraph. Why? Perhaps, because I recognise the power of ambiguity in writing. Or maybe because I see it as a metaphor for life.  

As Friedrich Nietzsche observed, “The relief-like, incomplete presentation of an idea is sometimes more effective than its exhaustive realisation. More is left for the beholder to do, he is impelled to continue working on that which appears before him so strongly etched in light and shadow.”

The existence of ambiguity suggests the existence of contradictions. And where contradictions exist, there’s scope for an imaginative tension or creative dynamic which leads to the potential development of something new.

Under the microscope

Let’s take a closer look at the various uses of the ellipsis (plural: ellipses).

The word stems from the Ancient Greek word ἔλλειψις, meaning 'leave out'.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as: “three dots in a printed text that show where one or more words have been intentionally left out.”

This definition is fine as far as it goes. But, ironically, only begins to tell the story. 

Leaving stuff out

It can be used to show the omission of quoted material. Perhaps because the quote in its original form is too long, or some of the text can be left out as it’s not relevant to that particular context.

This usage is commonly deployed by journalists writing to tight space constraints. Or more formal writing where a close focus is needed to communicate an argument.

Keeping it clean

Ellipses have been used to spare reader’s blushes and avoid spelling out profanities. And would be found in early 20th-century pulp fiction to signify expletives that would otherwise have been censored by the publisher. These days, the asterisk is more commonly used for this purpose.  

Trailing off

Poets sometimes use the ellipsis to indicate a pause in a poem. In Langston Hughes’ meditation on dealing with racist oppression, “Dream Variations”, Hughes uses ellipses in the second stanza to slow the rhythm, encourage reflection and add a note of ambiguity about the realism of the imaginative transformation offered by the first stanza.

  To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun,
  To whirl and to dance
Till the white day is done.
Then rest at cool evening
    Beneath a tall tree
While night comes on gently,
        Dark like me-
      That is my dream!

  To fling my arms wide
  In the face of the sun,
   Dance! Whirl! Whirl!
Till the quick day is done.
  Rest at pale evening . . .
    A tall, slim tree . . .
 Night coming tenderly
         Black like me.

Expressing hesitation

It can be used to denote a transitory pause that expresses doubt, anxiety or hesitation: ‘this presents us with a problem…’ or ‘I’m really not sure what to do…’

This invites the reader to stay in the moment, enter the mind of the character and reflect further on the situation presented.

The power of silence

The ellipsis is often used in literature to denote an ambiguous silence. Samuel Beckett’s absurdist tragicomedy Waiting for Godot provides a fine example of this:

Vladimir: I missed you... and at the same time I was happy. Isn't that a queer thing?

Estragon: (shocked) Happy?

Vladimir: Perhaps it's not quite the right word.

Estragon: And now?

Vladimir: Now? ... (Joyous.) There you are again. ... (Indifferent.) There we are again. ... (Gloomy.) There I am again.

The strange, interdependent friendship between Vladimir and Estragon is captured perfectly in this exchange.

Beckett uses ellipses to indicate various complicated emotional states. Silence, in effect, becomes another form of communication. A counterpoint to the dialogue, which provides its own tenebrous meaning.  

Why do copywriters used ellipses?

Used properly, words enable the writer to convey an idea clearly and precisely.

The ellipsis provides an opportunity to subvert this precision by replicating the informality of people’s conversation. This helps build your relationship with your readers.

It suggests that there’s something left unsaid. And opens the door to new perspectives.

Ellipses are a powerful tool in marketing copy precisely because they grab your attention and keep your readers wanting more.

They can be used in email subject lines to spark the reader’s interest and encourage them to open the email. Similarly, they can be deployed in article or direct mail titles to draw readers into the main content.

You can also use them effectively as transitions in the main body of the content: ‘consider this…’ or ‘we’ll take a closer look…’ or ‘let me explain…’.

Finally, they can be deployed as a stylistic device to ensnare the reader's attention: ‘They thought the matter was settled… how wrong they were.’

The rule of three

As ever with these things, style guides vary on how to write an ellipsis.

Some recommend three dots with no spaces (ie …) plus a space before and after the ellipse. With no need for a full stop at the end.

Others prefer three full stops with spaces between them (. . .).

Others call for three dots plus a full stop if it falls at the end of a sentence.

The key is consistency. Adopt a style and stick to it.

And whatever you do, don’t use two dots or four dots… Or there’ll be trouble!   

Throwing down the gauntlet

Lindsay Anderson’s ground-breaking satire on the English class system, if…., presented the prospect of rebellion against conformity and social hypocrisy. Reflecting the counter-cultural excitement of the 1960s, it’s about daring to imagine how things could be different.

The story goes that Anderson chose the title after he and writer David Sherwin had spent many fruitless hours debating alternative titles. An ironic nod to Rudyard Kipling’s famous poem, it demonstrates the endless power of the ellipsis to subvert established narratives.

Less is more…

Of course, if you’ve only recently discovered the beauty of the ellipsis, you may be tempted to overuse it.

Don’t.

Like any linguistic device, it has a specific purpose. And is best used sparingly. Over-use it in the same piece and you’ll seriously dilute its impact. Used inappropriately, it can easily undermine the tone of the copy you’re writing.

As it encourages your reader to slow down, it may distract or annoy them. And may even leave the unfortunate impression that you don’t really know what you’re talking about.

But used wisely, it opens up new worlds.   

Photo (cropped) by Ian Parker on Unsplash