z

Young Writers Society


Dashes, Semicolons, and Ellipses in Dialogue



User avatar
3821 Reviews
Supporter


Gender: Female
Points: 3891
Reviews: 3821
Sun Sep 02, 2007 4:36 am
View Likes
Snoink says...



Semicolons indicates a dramatic pause, which is later finished.

"This is not a good idea; it will lead us into danger."

"Hush!"

Ellipses (the dot-dot-dot thing) indicate a trailing off.

"I don't think that's a good idea..."

"Hush!"

Dashes indicate an abrupt cutting off.

"I don't think --"

"Hush!"

What's the difference between the dash and the ellipsis? With dashes, you cut off the sentence before it is complete. With an ellipsis, you indicate a cliffhanger sentence. It's still complete grammatically, but the idea isn't.

Ellipses and dashes are most effectively used in dialogue or first-person narration, although they can be used sparingly in other narration as well.
Ubi caritas est vera, Deus ibi est.

"The mark of your ignorance is the depth of your belief in injustice and tragedy. What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls the butterfly." ~ Richard Bach

Moth and Myth <- My comic! :D
  








For in everything it is no easy task to find the middle ... anyone can get angry—that is easy—or give or spend money; but to do this to the right person, to the right extent, at the right time, with the right motive, and in the right way, that is not for everyone, nor is it easy; wherefore goodness is both rare and laudable and noble.
— Aristotle