麻豆社

Watch: What is an ellipsis?

How to use an ellipsis

Back to top

How to use an ellipsis

An ellipsis can be used for different purposes and can be very useful in your writing.

  1. It can be used to show a word or words that have been removed from a sentence or quote. For example:

鈥楾he space station has a cracked window and if you open it, it is very dangerous.鈥 could become 鈥楾he space station has a cracked window鈥 it is very dangerous.鈥

Here, part of the sentence (and if you open it) has been removed and replaced by an ellipsis.

  1. When a character finishes a sentence in their head, or their thought trails off. For example:

If your grown-ups ask you if you have tidied your room, you might reply, 鈥淲ell I was going to鈥︹.

Here, the ellipsis has finished the sentence and replaced 鈥渂ut I haven鈥檛鈥.

  1. To create suspense by adding a pause before the end of the sentence. For example:

鈥楾he hero saved the day, for now鈥︹

Back to top

Watch: Using ellipsis

How to use an ellipsis

Back to top

Activity 1

Back to top

Activity 2

An illustration of a young girl thinking.

Write a spooky short story (or story opening) using the picture below as inspiration.

In your writing, try to use an ellipsis for at least three of the following purposes.

To:

  • leave a cliffhanger
  • add suspense
  • show thoughts trailing off
  • introduce a character flashback
  • show where part of the sentence was removed
  • leave a cliffhanger at the end of a paragraph
An illustration of a young girl thinking.
A black and white image of a sloped attic - an empty wooden chair sits in front of a small window.
Back to top

Play our fun English game Crystal Explorers. game

Use grammar, punctuation and spelling skills to explore jungles, caves and tombs on your mission!

Play our fun English game Crystal Explorers
Back to top

More on Writing

Find out more by working through a topic