Thanks for the comment, Jerry! True, there's ...

2011-08-23T22:47:25.240-04:00

Thanks for the comment, Jerry!

True, there's no real equivalent to the ellipsis in oral language, but maybe there doesn't need to be. What the ellipsis means is communicated nonverbally. Examples: The ellipsis can stand in for certain voice qualities (like pacing) or take the place of that circular hand gesture people sometimes use to indicate "and so forth." Face to face, those things need no words.

I have to disagree strongly with the statement about English having been unchanged for a long time, though. English--especially vocabulary but also usage--changes frequently, almost constantly. Or perhaps I read your statement wrong: If you meant punctuation, yes, it does tend to be much closer to (though still not entirely) static.

I, personally, love the ability to use the ellipse...

2011-08-11T21:14:11.198-04:00

I, personally, love the ability to use the ellipses in written documents.

There is no equivalent in spoken language but, when writing, the reader is clearly told to consider other concepts or possibilities. It's a shame our verbal language cannot accommodate this transmutation but then English has been basically unchanged for hundreds of years.

The ellipses permits us to make even the simplest published comments and challenge the readers to "think outside the box" at the same time.

I love the ellipses!

Jerry

Comments on Word-wise: Punctuation tip: Ellipsis vs. em dash, Part I

Thanks for the comment, Jerry! True, there's ...

I, personally, love the ability to use the ellipse...