three dots question

The first one looks right to me and the second one looks funny. But I don't actually know anything so better wait for someone who does.

HH Johnson said:

"They are on their way ... oh, Jesus ... they are on their way ... "

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That's correct. If that's the complete sentence, though, you should add a fourth dot (i.e., a period) to the final ellipsis.

Ellipses are for trailing off thoughts or conversation. Dashes for abrupt ends on either. Your line sounds like someone realizes something and is terrified. Hard to tell so if I'm out of context ignore this.

"They are on their way... Oh Jesus--they are on their way!"

I think the first one looks right, and agree that you need a fourth dot for the last set of elipses.

Actually, elipses are also used for a pause effect in a sentence, not just for a thought that trails off.

I read a tutorial on elipses somewhere on the internet recently. It explained the exact difference between the three dot elipses and the four dot elipses too. I think if you google elipses, you can find more info on them.

Hope this helps some.

I think the OP may be using the ellipsis for the wrong effect. They are certainly used for a pause effect in delivering a sentence but if, as is the case here, the phrases on either side of the first ellipsis are independent phrases it seems to me the period is the correct punctuation.

I don't get the impression here of a sentence trailing off or being paused in mid delivery. What's happening here is the speaker may be panicking - maybe the oposite effect is intended and he's over excited.

Hard to tell out of context and to me the ellipsis use doesn't clarify it.

Not sure if this is okay or not but when I use an ellipsis I seperate each dot with a space. They seem to look better and more distinct that way:
. . . -vs- ...
ps Who is on their way?
You've got me curious!

Whatever you choose. It is not worth worrying about.

anis said:

Not sure if this is okay or not but when I use an ellipsis I seperate each dot with a space. They seem to look better and more distinct that way:
. . . -vs- ...

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