Ellipses

[Kefka Jr.]

It's three dots. Not two, not four, not five - three. No more, no less.

They don't have to be spaced out from each other, but they should be spaced before and/or after, except when they're followed by a question mark or exclamation point.

You have offended me sir ... We meet on the field of onions.

But if you're out here, and I'm out here, then who's in ...!

You can misspell "cat" and I wouldn't blink, but if one thing gets my goat, it's clumsy use of the ellipsis. It's not something normal people use all the time in every day writing, but it seems that when people go onto the Internet, they like to take a lot of dramatic pauses, despite the fact that I can simply skip over it without having to pause myself. And yet these kinds of pauses are taken all over the Pavilion. Some of you, it's like there's a family of digital mice living in your account, pooping all over your posts.

If you're going to use the ellipsis, use it properly, use it sparingly, and, please, use it safely.

[Ωbright]

Re: Ellipses

[John Mora]

Re: Ellipses

..

I don't get it.

[DarkwingChuck]

Re: Ellipses

I'm sure in a few years they'll have changed the rules so that ellipses are considered correct when it's two or four. Once a misuse is prevalent enough it becomes an accepted use. That's why I really don't care about people not adhering to grammar rules to the letter as long as they can still be understood. Grammar is meant to facilitate communication not restrict it.

[John Mora]

Re: Ellipses

But once you **** all over it, you're not even speaking or writing English anymore.

And by the way, it's all right, not alright. You didn't use it in your post but that gets my goat, too.

[Ωbright]

Re: Ellipses

I have some of the best spelling and grammar habits to be found here, so people are just going to have to get over my use of ellipses...it's part of my writing style, and it's not going to change. I'm sorry if it offends your sensibilities.

No really...I understand. There are things that bother me, also.

Their
There
They're

These words are not interchangeable.

I generally just roll my eyes and move on though, unless it gets to the point that communication suffers as a result.

[DarkwingChuck]

Re: Ellipses

But once you **** all over it, you're not even speaking or writing English anymore.

And by the way, it's all right, not alright. You didn't use it in your post but that gets my goat, too.

What's so great about English? Hardly anybody in America speaks or writes English. If we did we'd spell colour with a u and fill our cars with petrol.

[Chad]

Re: Ellipses

I feel so validated. I feel so appreciated. I feel so loved.

You see that everyone? I'm not the only one who is getting tired of this. The ellipsis is not to be used to indicate a quick pause... when... you're... talking... like... this...

To those who got the ellipsis rep. Sorry about the neg, but this has had me blowing my top.

[IRC]

Re: Ellipses

I can't wait for Karr to post. Or rather... my character can't

Oh, and putting a space before the ellipses just looks silly so I'm not going to do it.

[Bon]

Re: Ellipses

Well, I'm AN English major, so I know I'm under a lot of pressure when I'm making my posts here, and I still make a mistake here and there (either that, or when I do create sentences with no errors, I'm somehow accused of being a damn robot). Nobody's perfect, people.

Edit: Mora got me.

[Chad]

Re: Ellipses

We must all aspire to be, though!

[DarkwingChuck]

Re: Ellipses

I blame our educational system. They teach grammar as rules instead of guidelines and condition you to think any and all deviation from the rules is a problem. Grammar is a construct of language not communication.

[IRC]

Re: Ellipses

That's some grade A hippie talk there soldier. I just have issues of keeping track of clauses, and I always feel like I'm throwing way to many commas in there, so I go with a less is more attitude on them.

[Alex]

Re: Ellipses

[John Mora]

Re: Ellipses

Well, I'm and English major

Not anymore you're not!