Now, I'm sure you're all familiar with the ellipsis. The word comes from the Greek élleipsis, meaning "omission." It's that series of dots, usually three (...), sometimes with four spaces ( . . . ) used to indicate that a quotation has not been reproduced in full. It is also one of two punctuation marks, along with the em dash (--), used to indicate aposiopesis, or the breaking off of a sentence, usually with the implication that the speaker/writer is unable or unwilling to continue.
A humble ellipsis inserted into a perfectly ordinary sentence can make it seem downright sinister.
"What did you do today?"
"I went for a walk."
"What did you do today?"
"I...went for a walk."
"With leather gloves on?"
"It was cold."
"And a crossbow?"
"...Yes"
People who pause too often when speaking or abandon their sentences outright can't be trusted. At the very least, they're thieves, stealing your time by refusing to get on with it already. Celebrate National Punctuation Day by finally making use of your local police department's anonymous tip line! You know you want to.
Ellipses can also be used to convey apathy, disappointment, confusion and no doubt a lot else. "I went to the mall today..." "Well, I went to that concert I was talking about earlier..." "He just kept talking..." "Why do I even bother..."
Here's a bit more for your Punctuation-Day festivities:
“life's not a paragraph
And death i think is no parenthesis”
― E.E. Cummings
The official site?
"The Ancient Roots of Punctuation" by the lovely Keith Houston
And an ode to the ampersand:
Of all the types in a printer's hand
Commend me to the Amperzand,
For he's the gentleman (seems to me)
Of the typographical companie.
O my nice little Amperzand,
My graceful, swanlike Amperzand.
Nothing that Cadmus ever planned
Equals my elegant Amperzand!
He's never bothered, like A B C
In Index, Guide and Directorie:
He's never stuck on a Peeler's coat,
Nor hung to show where the folks must vote.
No, my nice little Amperzand,
My plump and curly Amperzand,
When I've a pen in a listless hand,
I'm always making an Amperzand!
Many a letter your writers hate,
Ugly q, with his tail so straight,
x, that makes you cross as a bear,
And z, that helps you with zouns to swear.
But not my nice little Amperzand,
My easily dashed-off Amperzand:
Any odd shape folks understand
To mean my protean Amperzand!
Nothing for him that's starch or stiff,
Never he's used in scold or tiff;
State epistles, so dull and grand,
Mustn't contain the shortened and.
No, my nice little Amperzand,
You are good for those who're jolly and bland;
In days when letters were dried with sand
Old frumps wouldn't use my Amperzand!
But he is dear in old friendship's call,
Or when love is laughing through lady-scrawl!
"Come & dine, & have bachelor's fare."
"Come, & I'll keep you a round & square."
Yes, my nice little Amperzand
Never must into a word expand;
Gentle sign of affection stand,
My kind, familiar Amperzand.
"Letter's Five do form his name:"
His, who millions doth teach and tame:
If I could not be in that Sacred Band,
I'd be the affable Amperzand.
Yes, my nice little Amperzand,
And when P U N C H is driving his five-in-hand,
I'll have a velocipede, neatly planned
In the shape of a fly-away Amperzand.
[source]
Happy National Punctuation Day! Now, on to the REAL party!
