What does ...... mean.

[Fluff]

In chat language. Does it mean pause? Do you regulary use it? And when you use it is it generally a negative/sarcastic response to something.

e.g. Did you lock the door on the way out?

Yes......


Is it a slightly more polite version of ?

[Dr Mordrid]

I use it as an extended comma; a pause.

[Mehen]

I generally use "..." as a pause.
If its "................" then its, "omgz ur so stupidz I don't even want to answer"

[Elie]

I use it this context for example...

"please adhere to the following instructions..."

1-
2-
etc.

[az]

Some people also use it to end EVERY FSCKING SENTENCE...

[Fluff]

I didn't know it had a name ; Google couldn t search for ... even in "...".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellipsis

[VJ]

In chat language. Does it mean pause? Do you regulary use it? And when you use it is it generally a negative/sarcastic response to something.

I mainly use it for pauze...
But also as a "won't continue the explanation is I assume you understand now...", or a "I said something possibly cynical/sarcastic and await your comeback line...", or "I am a bit puzzled...".

az... really?....

I didn't know it had a name ; Google couldn t search for ... even in "...".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellipsis

I learned that when a reviewer returned a paper I submitted and he commented "remove the ellipses". My first reaction was: it is about triangles, not ellipses...


Jörg

[Brian Ellis]

This is called an ellipsis and is defined as an omission from a sentence of one or more words which would be needed to complete the sense or construction or which occur in the original; the omission of a sentence at the end of a paragraph; a set of dots etc. used to indicate such omission. Formerly, elision of a vowel. M16.

Traditionally, an ellipsis is three dots in typography, no more.

Like many punctuation marks, it is often misused. Correct usage could be:

Hamlet: To be or not to be, ... (to show the quotation is incomplete)
I ... hate you (to indicate an obscenity)
The sermon was long, boring, monotonous, irrelevant ... (to show that many more adjectives could be applied).

If, at the end of a sentence, it can usually mean nearly the same as et cetera (abbreviated etc.) An ellipsis should never be put after etc. because this would be pleonastic.

Wrong usage:

An ellipsis should not be used in the heading of a list; a colon is the correct mark as I've put in the line above.
To break a sentence into two complete but related clauses; the semicolon is the correct mark, as I have put in this and the previous sentences.
To break a sentence into two related clauses but one has no verb; the colon is the correct punctuation. E.g., He went to the door: closed! (but, He went to the door; it was closed!).
To indicate passage of time; a long dash (not a hyphen) would be more appropriate.

Edit: I started this 40 minutes ago but was interrupted; in the meanwhile, several other posts came up. I hadn't seen the Wikipedia article at the time but it seems pretty good.

[az]

Brian: Good, informative post. However, you seem to have missed the first line of the original posting...

[Evildead666]

I personally use it as a pause, since I am always adding bits to sentences...
It breaks up many 'splurges' of thought onto paper/screen.

[Brian Ellis]

Brian: Good, informative post. However, you seem to have missed the first line of the original posting...

Know nuffink about chatting, though

[Gurm]

It can also be used (and I tend to overuse it in this context) to indicate that you aren't finishing a sentence.

For example:

I was going to have sex with your mom, but...

(The implied ending of the sentence is "she has too many STD's" or "she's a skank" or "I had better things to do" or whatever.)

[ND66]

I don’t chat, but if I use it may mean:










.

[gt40]

could be morse code

[Mehen]

Well 3 dots in a row would be 'S'
But if it is longer, and with no spaces, I guess it would be e-e-e-e-e-e
(single dot is 'E')
... = s
. = e