Eclipse of the comma....

[Guest]

 

[cloudy]

I use ellipses in posts like you do, to represent an actual pause, sorta.

I wouldn't worry about it. Critiquing grammar and punctuation in stories is fine. On the other hand, critiquing it in posts is just a tad obsessive.

 

[minsue]

Ellipses in posts, no problem. I do it too much, too.

Ellipses in stories, though, are a different matter. They drive me batty when they're sprinkled all over the place. Once in a while is fine, but there are a lot of stories out there where ellipses litter the page.

 

[Guest]

 

[neonlyte]

I use them if I want to leave something hanging...

For a pause... or change of direction in a line of dialogue.

'Or,' he said, 'to interrupt dialogue... '

'I want to get a word in.' She interjected.

Critiquing punctuation in posts is a tad nerdy. But I (almost) welcome people pointing out my errors in published stories.

 

[Liar]

There are loads of ellipses in my dialouge. Lines are often written with very specific tempo and micro pauses in mind, and for thet they are a good tool. I also use it sometimes in narration. But then it'll have to be with the right perspective, a narrator who thinks and judges, and speaks to the reader. Most of my narrators do, so the naration gets talky and personal too.

Like everything else, it's a tool. If you use it properly, or are aware of the effects when using it improperly...there you have it.

#L

 

[English Lady]

I use'em all the time in my posts..if I want to add a bit of a dramatic pause...to make sure people do pausse before reading the next bit -and I do it the same in my stories. I think I keep'em under control but then I have nothing against them so maybe I don't really notice them as I should.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Ellipses has a definite punctuational meaning. It denotes excluded speech or an ending that trails off.

Why, if it hadn't been for you...

Well, I...er...um...

The em or double dash is also used for a sudden break in speech, especially when someone is interupted.

"Now wait just a--"

"Shut up!"

The problem with using ellipses in posts is that it tends to make you sound like you're rambling and unable to finish a complete thought. It makes you sound like you're mumbling.

Some people even like broccoli... Then on the other hand... Who even knows for sure...

It can become a very nasty habit, and one that's hard to break. A sentence says something. A sentence that ends in ellipses, on the other hand...

If you want to use a lot of ellipses, no one's going to stop you, but bear in mind that to a lot of people you'll come across as sounding like you have early-onset Alzheimer's and your brain is getting mushy.

---dr.M.

 

[Guest]

 

[bg23]

I have a terrible habit of using them...they're horribly addictive. Like you said...I like to write as I speak...and in the process I manage to debase the english language too...but oh well!

 

[tolyk]

One point I thought I'd mention, many people use elipses improperly even in posts. Even though I use them myself in casual conversation quite a bit, I have noticed that many people think that any number of periods is an elipse. Which isn't true, an elipse is formed of three periods '...', any more is just a bunch of periods

 

[Guest]

 

[tolyk]

NOPE.

they are "DOTS"

moments in time...you really need to ZOOOM in on them!
.

I wouldn't be surprised if they were tiny illustrations with incredibely minute detail. Not coming from you at least

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

 

[tolyk]

Gets the point across however