Each week proofreader Hannah Jones discusses and offers a remedy to common problems we encounter when writing. Today she discusses perhaps the most suspenseful of punctuation marks … the ellipsis.

What is an ellipsis?

An ellipsis (from the Greek elleipsis meaning 'leave out') is a set of three, usually unspaced, dots (…). As the name suggests, these dots signify that a word or words have been intentionally omitted.

When should an ellipsis be used?

There are many occasions when ellipses can come in handy. Here are some of the most common uses – and some common pitfalls to avoid!