Periods, semicolons, and dashes

I think you're confused about dashes, semicolons, and those periods (...).

Periods indicate a trailing off.

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

"Hush!"

Semicolons indicates a dramatic pause, which is later finished.

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

"Hush!"

Dashes indicate an abrupt cutting off.

"I don't think --"

"Hush!"

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

This also should only be used in dialogue, unless you're writing in first person, which is a little less strict.

Aren't "those periods" called ellipsis?

They are.

I torment my friends with my knowledge of that. They say, "and those little dot dot dot things" and I get to blurt out, "Ellipses!" Fun stuff.

LOL! Well, unlike you two, I call them DOT-DOT-DOTs.

It's really funny. My best friend overuses them in her stories, so I do critiquing and reading over the phone, and I say "They went to the grocery store... DOT-DOT-DOT." Really loud too so it's embarrassing but funny.

Okay... I shall remember that to impress.... *tries to remember*

Very informative.

That's what happens when Stinkoman teaches grammar.

Stinkoman 20X6 wrote: (...) "DOT DOT DOT!"

20X6!

Griffinkeeper wrote:Very informative.

That's what happens when Stinkoman teaches grammar.

Stinkoman 20X6 wrote: (...) "DOT DOT DOT!"

20X6!

HAHA! Good one Griffin, but I must ask:

Are you asking for some kind of challeeeenge?!

Snoink wrote:Okay... I shall remember that to impress.... *tries to remember*

Are those dot-dot-dots used correctly after that "Okay"?

I have a friend who just does two dots..
Gah! It makes me wanna scream at him.

I usually over do it when I'm just talking (via typing) though.......... << example