The humble ellipsis (...)—those three little dots—can seem insignificant, but in academic writing, their proper use is crucial. Misusing ellipses can undermine the clarity and credibility of your work, especially when adhering to the strict guidelines of the American Psychological Association (APA) style guide. This guide will clarify how to use ellipses correctly in APA style, ensuring your writing is both accurate and impactful.
What are Ellipses Used For?
Ellipses indicate the omission of words within a quotation. They signal to the reader that material has been removed from the original text, preserving the overall meaning while shortening the quote for brevity or focus. It's essential to use them correctly to avoid misrepresenting the original author's intent.
How to Use Ellipses in APA Style
The APA style guide provides specific rules for employing ellipses:
- Within a sentence: When omitting words from within a sentence, use three dots with spaces between them: "...". For example:
"The quick brown fox...jumped over the lazy dog."
- At the beginning of a sentence: If you omit words from the beginning of a sentence, you still use three dots with spaces, but they follow any initial capitalization. For example:
Original quote: "The study showed significant results."
APA-formatted quote: "...showed significant results."
- At the end of a sentence: If the omission occurs at the end of a sentence, use three dots followed by a period. This makes four dots total. There is no space between the three ellipsis dots and the period. For example:
Original quote: "The experiment concluded successfully."
APA-formatted quote: "The experiment concluded..."
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Omitting entire sentences: When omitting an entire sentence or multiple sentences, use three dots (with spaces) followed by a period. Remember, the ellipsis represents the omitted words within the sentence; it doesn’t represent omitted sentences.
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Omitting material from the end of a quotation: If you omit material from the end of the sentence, use the three dots and a period as usual.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Overusing ellipses: Don't overuse ellipses. They should only be used when necessary to shorten a quote while maintaining its essential meaning. Excessive use can make your writing appear choppy and unclear.
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Incorrect spacing: Always remember the spaces between the dots when using ellipses within a sentence. The spacing is crucial for proper APA formatting.
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Forgetting the period: Remember to add a period after the three dots when omitting words from the end of a sentence.
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Using ellipses to indicate a pause: Ellipses are not used to suggest a pause or hesitation in speech within a direct quotation. Use other punctuation marks for such purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use brackets with ellipses in APA?
Yes, brackets are often used in conjunction with ellipses. If you need to add a word or phrase for clarification when using an ellipsis, enclose your addition within square brackets. For instance: "The study showed [unexpected] results..."
What if the omitted material includes punctuation?
If you omit material that includes punctuation, you usually remove that punctuation along with the omitted words. The only exception is if the omitted material ends the sentence, in which case you will add the terminal period after the ellipsis dots.
How do I cite a source with an ellipsis-shortened quote?
You cite the source normally, following standard APA citation guidelines. The inclusion of ellipses within the quote doesn't affect the citation format.
Are there any alternatives to using ellipses?
Sometimes, you can simply paraphrase instead of using an ellipsis. This can be a cleaner way to present information, and it avoids the potential for misinterpreting the original quote.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your use of ellipses adheres to APA style, promoting clarity, accuracy, and a professional presentation of your research. Remember, the key is to maintain the integrity of the original quote while making it concise and relevant to your argument.
