When to use ellipses?

[fluffypants]

Okay so, I leared about ellipses in my english class last year and I have never figured out the proper time to use them. Does anyone know when to use them because I actually use them all the time.

An ellipses is three dots like so >...  

[Sachiko13]

well...i don't know any rules about them, though i use them frequently.  

[Ame Yuki Kaze]

Ellipses are generally used to indicate a pause or a trailing off of thought.  

[SeleigheFey]

Ellipses are used for pauses, or for omissions in a quote. Example: "We the People...establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility" It can also be used in dialogue if someone is frequently stopping for breath: "I just...ran thirty miles...to tell you that...I love you."  

[Ghurdrich]

Mostly I use them for effect. Mostly because I role play, they help a lot.
"No... It can't be... You..."
Things like that. It's a dramatic pause.  

[Kenaki-Windstorm]

I would say when pausing.  

[Elanchana]

I use ellipses everywhere...  

[Hot_Cocoa42]

Yes, I use them alot, more than I should. But in my mind I like how they make things sound. I tend to use "So..." the most.  

[dianersj]

wow ok you're talking about "..." i thought you were talking about the ellipses in math. Because i don't know when to use them either.  

[[C]yberwaste]

I use it to show that my voice is trailing off....  

[pythonesque]

I use them to show a pause in talking or trailing off. I use them often.  

[Kipluck]

I definitely use (and OVER use!) elipses. I am afraid that (and over using parenthetical statements) is my biggest grammatical vice. 4laugh  

[DarkElf27]

I use them a fair bit.  

[Aightynine]

Kipluck

I definitely use (and OVER use!) elipses. I am afraid that (and over using parenthetical statements) is my biggest grammatical vice. 4laugh

I have the same issue with parenthises. And yes, I do use ellipses. Ever since I learned about them, it has bothered me to see an ellipse with more than three dots in it (unless it is at the end of a sentence, in which case, it is supposed to be four dots-the ellipse and a period.) xd  

[]Impetigo[]

If you see a sentence with more than two ellipses...I'm behind it. sweatdrop

I don't know how to stop...they just occur naturally to me...and now I can't quit using them. Semicolons? What're those?

Maybe I just like dramatic pauses. mrgreen