Using ellipses correctly in APA style is crucial for accurately representing quoted material while maintaining clarity and avoiding misrepresentation. This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of the rules and best practices for employing ellipses in your APA style papers, ensuring your citations are both precise and ethically sound.
What are Ellipses and Why Use Them in APA?
Ellipses (...) are three equally spaced dots that indicate the omission of words, phrases, or sentences within a direct quotation. They are essential for brevity and clarity when quoting lengthy passages. In APA style, using ellipses correctly demonstrates careful attention to detail and ethical scholarly practice. Incorrectly using them can distort the original meaning of the text.
APA Style Rules for Using Ellipses
Here's a breakdown of the APA style guidelines for ellipses in quotations:
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Omitting words within a sentence: When omitting words from within a sentence, use three dots (...) to indicate the omission.
- Example: The original quote: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."
- Quote with ellipsis: "The quick brown...lazy dog."
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Omitting words at the beginning of a sentence: If you omit words from the beginning of a sentence, you do not need to use an ellipsis before the first word of the retained part.
- Example: Original quote: "This sentence is very long. It includes many words."
- Quote with ellipsis: "It includes many words."
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Omitting words at the end of a sentence: If you omit words from the end of a sentence, use three dots followed by a period (....). This creates a four-dot ellipsis to signal the end of the sentence.
- Example: Original quote: "This is a complete sentence."
- Quote with ellipsis: "This is..."
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Omitting a whole sentence or multiple sentences: Use an ellipsis to indicate the omission of one or more complete sentences. Three dots followed by a period (....) is used to indicate the omission of a whole sentence. If multiple sentences are omitted, continue to use only four dots to indicate the omission of each sentence.
- Example: Original quote: "This is the first sentence. This is the second sentence. This is the third sentence."
- Quote with ellipsis: "This is the first sentence....This is the third sentence."
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Omitting material from the end of a quotation: If you omit material from the very end of the quotation, make sure you use a four-dot ellipsis. This is consistent with the rule for omitting the end of a sentence.
- Example: Original quote: "The study concluded that..."
- Quote with ellipsis: "The study concluded that...."
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Brackets and Ellipses: If you need to add words for clarity, use brackets [ ] and not parentheses ( ). Never place the bracketed addition immediately after an ellipsis – add the bracket addition after the first retained word.
- Example: Original quote: "The dog ran quickly."
- Modified Quote: "The [large] dog...quickly."
How to Avoid Misrepresenting the Original Text
Using ellipses requires careful consideration. Always ensure that your use of ellipses does not alter the original meaning or intent of the quoted material. If omitting words changes the meaning, it is better to quote the entire passage or paraphrase instead. The goal is accurate representation, not shortening a quote at all costs.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using too many ellipses: Overusing ellipses can make your writing choppy and difficult to read. Aim for clarity and conciseness.
- Failing to use four dots at the end of a sentence: This is a common error that can be easily avoided by remembering the rule.
- Altering the meaning of the original text: Always double-check that your use of ellipses does not misrepresent the author's original message.
Conclusion
Mastering the use of ellipses in APA style is essential for producing accurate and scholarly work. By following these guidelines, you can ensure your quotations are both concise and represent the original material faithfully. Remember, the focus is always on ethical and accurate representation of the source material.
Note: This guide is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for consulting the official Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
