l ellipsis ＝ singular; ellipses＝plural
l Ellipses signify (1) pauses in dialogue (Example A); (2) numbers that have been left out (Example B). (3) words or figures that are omitted within quoted material (see below).
省略號表示（1）對話中的停頓（例如欲言又止）（Example A）；（2）一部份數字的省略（Example B）；（3）在引述材料中刪除的詞或數字（見下文）
l Example A (pause in dialogue)
He said, “I think … no, I know who stole the watch.”
l Example B (mathematical use)
3.14159...
Use of ellipses when words are omitted within quoted material （引文有刪節時使用ellipses）
l An ellipsis is most frequently used with quotations. （Ellipsis 最多在引述語中使用。）
l Use three dots/periods in a row to show the omission of words in the middle of the sentence. Use four dots (three dots + a period) to show the omission of words at the end of a sentence. Nevertheless, some people also use three dots at the end.
如在句子開首和中間，用三個dots。如在句尾，用四個dots（即三個dot ＋句號），但即使在句尾用三個dots亦可接受。
l Ellipsis in the middle （在句中間使用ellipsis）
The pamphlet says, “The instructor will determine the number of attendees admitted to the class … and will decide whether attendees should receive credit for the course.”
l Ellipsis at the end（在句末使用ellipsis）
The pamphlet says, “The instructor will determine the number of attendees admitted to the class…”
l Ellipsis at the beginning （在開首使用ellipsis）
(1) If the quoted material is clearly only part of a sentence, an ellipsis is unnecessary and incorrect.
如引用的材料一看即知只是句子的一部分，不用加ellipsis，加了就錯。
Example: He said that the proposal “will be given full consideration.” (clearly only part of the text)
(2) If the quoted material appears to be a complete sentence, use an ellipsis to show the quoted material had either preceding or following words
如引用的材料看似一句句子，應使用ellipsis表示引文之前或之後還有其他字詞，引述的並非全部原文。
Example : “…The matter is closed,” he assured us in his letter.
Ellipsis also means grammatically allowed omission of one or more words from a sentence.
Ellipsis 也指省略法，在文法允許下從句子省略一或數個字。
Examples (^ shows the point at which ellipsis occurs) （^表示有所省略之處）
(a) That dog is older than this ^.
(b) Have you seen Sammy? No, I haven’t ^.
(c) Most children have travelled more widely than their parents ^.
(d) Boys will be boys, and girls ^ girls.
(e) It is more important for students to understand than ^ memorize the texts they study.
(f) Helen had seven dollars; Grace, three.
(全寫是Helen had seven dollars; Grace had three。這種省略法是用semi-colon將兩個結構相同的clause寫在一起，省去第二個clause的動詞，用comma取代。 )
(g) Peter has won three championships; John, two.
