Punctuation

[fluidity]

When ending a sentence with an ellipsis (...) must you use 4 dots with the first dot being a period?

 

[Tarheel]

Yes.

 

[emsr2d2]

I'm confused by your question. If you are using an ellipsis then your sentence is, by definition, not ending. It is continuing on to another part of the sentence. Style in the UK is 3 dots with a space at either end ... like that.

 

[Tarheel]

If you are using an ellipsis then your sentence is, by definition, not ending.

Technically, that is, I guess, true. But there are no more words. You are leaving out everything to the end of the sentence. (Is this an AE, BE difference?)

 

[emsr2d2]

If I'm writing a sentence and simply omitting the last XXX number of words, then it's just a space and then 3 dots. Like this:

I would tell you more about the ellipsis but ...


That's it! If I was omitting XXX number of words from the middle of a sentence or a quote, I would use a space, then 3 dots, then a space then continue.

He said that he was able explain the ellipsis in three languages, with ... being his favourite.
He named several punctuation marks - the full stop, comma ... exclamation mark.

 

[Raymott]

"If words are left off at the end of a sentence, and that is all that is omitted, indicate the omission with ellipsis marks (preceded and followed by a space) and then indicate the end of the sentence with a period … . If one or more sentences are omitted, end the sentence before the ellipsis with a period and then insert your ellipsis marks with a space on both sides. … As in this example."
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/ellipsis.htm

"Pride is one thing, but what happens if she…?" Here we have three dots and a question mark.
http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/ellipses.asp

"There are two commonly used methods of using ellipses: one uses three dots for any omission, while the second one makes a distinction between omissions within a sentence (using three dots: . . .) and omissions between sentences (using a period and a space followed by three dots: . ...). An ellipsis at the end of a sentence with a sentence following should be preceded by a period (for a total of four dots).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellipsis

There are various styles, and this is changing. 20 years ago, I would always have used four dots when writing an ellipsis at the end of a sentence. Now I don't.
I used to write, for example "I like oranges, apples, kiwi fruit, watermelon...." Now I don't.
With quoting, I might. "He said, 'You haven't told me ...'. And then he stopped suddenly."
I have to confess to not being able to give as dogmatic an answer as previous posters. You should use the style guide of the organisation you are writing for.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I use four dots when ending a sentence with an ellipsis (three dots) and a period (1 dot). The period is the last dot, not the first.

 

[emsr2d2]

As Raymott said, use the style guide of the organisation you are writing for. My guide was from the company I do audio transcription for and I have continued to use that everywhere else.

 

[SoothingDave]

I think you need to make some distinction between two sentences in the same paragraph, where you need a period at the end of the ellipsis to show that the next words begin a new sentence.

And when the ellipsis sentence ends a paragraph.

I can't say I have ever written the former.

Normally a thought that just sort of trails off would end a paragraph.

 

[fluidity]

I'm riding with you Raymott. ... Thanks!