Using ellipses correctly in APA style is crucial for maintaining the accuracy and integrity of your quotations. An ellipsis (...) indicates the omission of words, phrases, or sentences from a direct quotation. Misusing them can distort the original meaning and damage the credibility of your work. This guide clarifies the APA style rules for ellipses and provides examples to illustrate best practices.
When to Use an Ellipsis in APA Style
Ellipses are employed when you shorten a direct quote without altering its original meaning. They show readers that you've removed material for brevity or clarity. However, it's important to remember that ellipses should never be used to change the meaning of the original quote.
How to Use an Ellipsis in APA Style
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Placement: Place the ellipsis within the quotation marks.
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Spacing: In APA style, there should be a space before and after the ellipsis. For example: "The quick brown fox...jumps over the lazy dog."
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Beginning of a Sentence: If you omit words from the beginning of a sentence, use an ellipsis followed by a capital letter to signal the start of the new sentence. For example: "...The dog barked loudly."
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End of a Sentence: If you omit words from the end of a sentence within a longer quote, use an ellipsis followed by a period, followed then by closing quotation marks, with the next sentence properly punctuated. For example: "The quick brown fox jumped...The dog barked." (Note the period after the ellipsis but before the closing quotation mark.)
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Omitting Entire Sentences: When omitting entire sentences, use an ellipsis to indicate the omission. If the omission occurs at the end of the original sentence, the ellipsis precedes the sentence's closing punctuation. For example: "The quick brown fox jumped. ...The dog barked."
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Omitting Material Within a Sentence: When omitting material from within a sentence, use an ellipsis to indicate the omission. For example: "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy...dog."
What if the omission changes the meaning?
Crucially, remember that ellipses should never be used to alter the meaning of the original quotation. If removing words changes the intended message, then you should not use an ellipsis. Instead, you should either quote the entire passage or paraphrase it. Your goal is to provide context while maintaining accuracy; altering the author's intended meaning is unacceptable.
Adding Brackets for Clarity
Occasionally, you may need to add words to a quotation for clarity. This is done using brackets [ ], not parentheses. For example: “The dog [Fido] barked loudly.” This clarifies which dog is being referenced. Note that this should only be done when absolutely necessary to ensure comprehension, never to change the meaning of the original quote.
People Also Ask: FAQs on APA Ellipsis
How many dots are in an ellipsis in APA style?
There are three dots in an APA style ellipsis. They should be spaced, with a space before and after the ellipsis.
Do I need to use an ellipsis if I'm only omitting a few words?
It's always best practice to use an ellipsis when omitting words from a quotation, even if it is only a few words. This clearly signals to the reader that you have made an omission.
Can I use an ellipsis at the beginning of a quote?
Yes, you can use an ellipsis at the beginning of a quote to indicate that you are omitting words from the beginning of the original sentence. Remember to capitalize the first word after the ellipsis if it starts a sentence.
What if the original quote already contains an ellipsis?
If the original quote already contains an ellipsis, you should retain it. You can then add your own ellipsis to indicate further omissions. For example: "The quick brown fox... jumped... over the lazy dog." (Note the additional ellipsis indicates your own omission in addition to the one that was originally present).
By adhering to these guidelines, you can ensure that your use of ellipses in APA style is both accurate and effective, enhancing the credibility of your academic writing. Remember, responsible use of ellipses protects the integrity of the original source material.
