Ellipsis At The Beginning Of A Quote
An ellipsis is a set of three periods or dots (…) that is used to indicate the omission of words or phrases in a sentence. It is commonly used in writing and speech to indicate a pause or hesitation, or to show that some words have been left out. However, when it comes to using an ellipsis at the beginning of a quote, there are some rules and guidelines that you should be aware of.
What Is An Ellipsis At The Beginning Of A Quote?
An ellipsis at the beginning of a quote is used to indicate that the quote is a partial or incomplete sentence, and that some words or phrases have been omitted from the beginning of the sentence. This is often used when the beginning of the quote is not relevant to the point being made, or when the beginning of the quote is redundant or repetitive.
When Should You Use An Ellipsis At The Beginning Of A Quote?
There are several situations where you might want to use an ellipsis at the beginning of a quote:
- To remove unnecessary or redundant information from the beginning of a quote.
- To shorten a long quote without changing its meaning.
- To indicate that the quote is being taken out of context.
- To show that the quote is a partial or incomplete sentence.
How To Use An Ellipsis At The Beginning Of A Quote
When using an ellipsis at the beginning of a quote, there are some guidelines that you should follow:
- Use three periods or dots (…) to indicate the omission of words or phrases.
- Place the ellipsis at the beginning of the quote, before the first word.
- Enclose the quote in quotation marks.
- If the quote is a complete sentence, capitalize the first letter of the first word after the ellipsis.
- If the quote is a partial sentence, do not capitalize the first letter of the first word after the ellipsis.
- If the quote is being taken from the middle of a sentence, include the necessary punctuation marks before and after the ellipsis.
Examples Of Using An Ellipsis At The Beginning Of A Quote
Here are some examples of using an ellipsis at the beginning of a quote:
- "…the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
- "…ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." - John F. Kennedy
- "…to be or not to be…" - William Shakespeare
- "…I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'" - Martin Luther King Jr.
- "…the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." - Anonymous
Conclusion
Using an ellipsis at the beginning of a quote can be a useful tool for writers and speakers who want to shorten or clarify a quote without changing its meaning. By following the guidelines and examples outlined above, you can use this punctuation mark effectively and confidently in your writing and speech.
