When To Use Ellipses Over Etc.

A not-so-uncommon conundrum, for example, is when to use an ellipsis ( … ) versus etcetera (etc.). If you don’t know the answer—don’t worry—you’re not alone!

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When it comes to understanding how and when to use each version, the differences can seem subtle. But by using them correctly, you can add new elements to your writing, helping it flow better, while conveying your message more effectively. So, for those who struggle with when to use … or etc., we have a quick how-to guide that should help answer this burning question.

What does etc. mean? Let’s start with the easy one. It’s easy because, unlike ellipses that have many different uses, etcetera (etc.) is pretty simple and straightforward. It comes from the Latin expression that means “and other similar things.” Think of it as a time-saving feature. A common pop culture reference comes from the musical The King and I when King Mongkut of Siam learns how to use etcetera in a sentence and continues to use it throughout the movie. The film’s running joke is that the King uses etcetera as a mechanism for efficiency rather than extending a list. If you watched a lot of ’90s sitcoms, you could also think of etcetera as the prequel to “yada, yada, yada“. So, what nuggets of wisdom can you derive from an old musical or a funny sitcom? The proper use of etc. in conversation and writing.

How to use etc. The proper use comes after at least two similar items have been listed (e.g., “The baby was fussing, crying, etc. for hours”). The one fault in the King’s use of etc. throughout the movie is that he doesn’t use enough examples before dropping off into “etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.” For example, one of the King’s lines in the film says, “… So, many English books talk about love etcetera, etcetera, etcetera …” In this moment, the type of romance the King refers to is still ambiguous. He could be referring to friendship, family, or romance. He should have said “love, romance, etcetera” to be clearer about what he was referring to.

What are ellipses? An ellipsis consists of three dots ( … ) with a space both in front and behind. It’s a versatile form of punctuation that can be used to demonstrate a variety of tones in your writing. You can enhance your message or paint a visual by inserting an ellipsis into a conversation, or when closing out a scene.

How to use ellipses. There are five common uses for them in writing. They’re primarily used in creative writing and can be used for:

• A replacement for omitted words. Replacing omitted words might feel like a cop-out or changing a quote you’re using to make a point. However, you can use portions of a long quote to get your point across and use ellipses to show that you’re leaving out parts of the quote. Of course, there’s an ethical part to using ellipses, as you can leave out a crucial point of the quote to change its meaning entirely. Be careful when using them that you don’t leave out the most important parts of a quote or misconstrue the original message.
• A pause for effect in speaking. It’s not uncommon for creative writers to insert a dramatic pause in a novel or blog post. Whether it’s part of telling the story or in conversation, an ellipsis can be a great way to display this. For example, “He looked to his left, and there she was … his arch-nemesis.” The ellipses left you wanting more as the suspense built.
• An unfinished thought. An ellipsis is primarily a stylistic form of punctuation used to accentuate what you’re saying, especially when showing an unfinished thought. A writer might use an ellipsis to show that a character’s thought was drifting away from them. An example might be that they were saying something then got distracted by something off in the distance. Although, it wouldn’t be fitting to use an ellipsis if the speaker is interrupted, as this is most commonly shown by using an m-dash. For instance, a two-sided conversation that goes something like, “I wanted to tell you—” “There’s no time! We have to go!” An ellipsis would create a sense of fading rather than an abrupt interruption.
• Trailing off into silence. Similar to an unfinished thought, a speaker or description can fade into silence with an ellipsis. Using ellipses can be a way to leave some ambiguity where there might be closure or finality. A strategically placed ellipsis at the end of a chapter creates a feeling similar to slowly fading to black at the end of a movie scene.
• The passage of time. Creative writing doesn’t have to follow a defined timeline; it just has to make sense. Rather than writing a heading that says, “Five years later,” good storytelling will use some sort of mechanism to show how much time has passed. An ellipsis can be used to show that time has passed, then parts of the story will demonstrate how much time has passed.

Hopefully, moving forward, you have a better understanding of when to use etc. versus ellipses in your writing. Now, you’re ready to enhance your message by incorporating new aspects of grammar and punctuation—without too much muss, fuss, etc.