English Language Arts
Grade 10
15 min
Decide whether ellipses are used appropriately
Decide whether ellipses are used appropriately
What you'll learn
- Identify at least 8 out of 10 adjectives in sentences and explain how they modify a noun or pronoun.
- Identify at least 8 out of 10 adverbs in sentences and explain how they modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
- Apply their knowledge to correctly classify at least 4 out of 5 given words as either an adjective or an adverb by providing a written justification for their answer.
- Solve 3 out of 4 'adjective vs adverb' word problems by correctly choosing the word that fits the sentence.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define the function of an ellipsis within a quotation.
Identify the three primary rules for using ellipses to indicate an omission in quoted material.
Analyze a quotation containing an ellipsis to determine if the original author's meaning has been preserved.
Evaluate whether an ellipsis has been used to create a grammatically correct and coherent sentence.
Correctly apply ellipses to shorten a direct quotation for a research paper or analytical essay.
Differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate uses of ellipses in academic and journalistic contexts.
Ever seen a movie trailer quote a critic saying a film is '...an absolute triumph!' and wondered what words were cut out? 🤔 That's the power and peril of the ellipsis!
This tutor...
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
EllipsisA set of three periods ( . . . ) used to indicate an omission of a word, phrase, or sentence from a quoted passage.Original: 'The king, a man of great wealth and even greater pride, lost his kingdom.' Quoted with ellipsis: 'The king . . . lost his kingdom.'
OmissionThe act of leaving something out. In the context of quotations, it refers to the specific words or sentences removed and replaced by an ellipsis.In the quote 'The long and winding road . . . leads to your door,' the words 'that leads to your door' were the omission.
Syntactical IntegrityThe grammatical correctness and structural soundness of a sentence. When using an ellipsis, the new, shortened sentence must still be grammatically correct.Incorrect: 'Th...
3
Key Rules & Conventions
The Rule of Ethical Representation
An ellipsis must never be used in a way that alters the fundamental meaning of the original source.
This is the most important rule. Before omitting words, ask yourself: 'Does the quote still accurately reflect the author's point?' Your goal is to shorten for relevance, not to twist the meaning to fit your argument.
The Rule of Grammatical Flow
The newly formed sentence, with the quotation integrated into your own writing, must be grammatically complete and correct.
After inserting the ellipsis, read your entire sentence aloud. If it sounds awkward or is grammatically incorrect, you may need to add a word in brackets [ ] for clarity or rephrase the sentence leading into the quote.
The Rule of Punctuation and Spacing (MLA...
4 more steps in this tutorial
Sign up free to access the complete tutorial with worked examples and practice.
Sign Up Free to ContinueSample Practice Questions
Challenging
Your research thesis is: 'Despite its dense scientific language, Mary Shelley's *Frankenstein* is primarily a critique of social isolation.' You find the following quote from Victor Frankenstein: 'I, who had ever been surrounded by amiable companions, continually engaged in endeavoring to bestow mutual pleasure, I was now alone.' Which option uses an ellipsis most effectively and ethically to support your thesis?
A.Victor complains that he, 'who had ever been surrounded by amiable companions . . . was now alone.'
B.Victor states, 'I, who had ever been . . . engaged in endeavoring to bestow mutual pleasure, I was now alone.'
C.Victor laments his focus on 'endeavoring to bestow mutual pleasure' before he 'was now alone.'
D.Victor describes himself as 'surrounded by amiable companions, continually engaged . . . .'
Challenging
The tutorial mentions differentiating between uses in 'academic and journalistic contexts.' In journalism, an ellipsis is sometimes used to condense lengthy remarks from a public figure. Compared to a formal academic research paper, this journalistic use might occasionally place a higher priority on brevity and readability over:
A.The 'Rule of Ethical Representation'
B.Strict adherence to the original sentence's syntactical structure
C.The 'Rule of Punctuation and Spacing'
D.The use of bracketed insertions
Challenging
Original text: 'The war ended in 1918. The world that emerged from the conflict was irrevocably changed.' A student wants to connect these two sentences in a single quotation. Which of the following is the correct way to show an omission that includes the end of one sentence and the beginning of another?
A.The author writes, 'The war ended . . . the world that emerged . . . was irrevocably changed.'
B.The author writes, 'The war ended in 1918 . . . that emerged from the conflict was irrevocably changed.'
C.The author writes, 'The war ended in 1918. . . . The world that emerged from the conflict was irrevocably changed.'
D.The author writes, 'The war ended in 1918, . . . the world that emerged from the conflict was irrevocably changed.'
Want to practice and check your answers?
Sign up to access all questions with instant feedback, explanations, and progress tracking.
Start Practicing FreeMore from Quotations
English Language Arts for other grades
Frequently asked questions
What grade level is "Decide whether ellipses are used appropriately"?
Decide whether ellipses are used appropriately is a Grade 10 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Decide whether ellipses are used appropriately?
You'll be able to: Identify at least 8 out of 10 adjectives in sentences and explain how they modify a noun or pronoun; Identify at least 8 out of 10 adverbs in sentences and explain how they modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb; Apply….
Is "Decide whether ellipses are used appropriately" free to practice?
Yes. You can read the tutorial preview for free, and signing up for a free ExcelOS account unlocks the full tutorial and all practice questions with instant feedback.
How many practice questions are included with Decide whether ellipses are used appropriately?
This lesson includes 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.