Akeem Lasisi
Sometimes when speaking or writing, you want to intentionally leave out a word or more in a clause or paragraph. This may be because the items omitted are not necessary or that the statement will still be understood without them. Almost everyone does this, whether to achieve brevity or as a matter of style. This concept is called ellipsis and it is supposed to be as easy as ABC. But experience has shown that this is not always the situation. We shall look at the problem areas today.
Ellipsis may manifest in two broad ways. The first is by using dots ( … ) to indicate that an expression has been omitted, in a way that the audience/readers are able to fill in the gap:
I got there, greeted them … then left an hour later.
He knows a lot about international football. As for the Nigerian league …
The second way ellipsis can manifest is when you just omit an expression and move on – without indicating with any sign or punctuation mark:
The man said that he would buy a car. (With that)
The man said he would buy a car. (Without that)
The President arrived early and the President delivered a speech. (Repetition of the President)
The President arrived early and delivered a speech. (With ellipsis of the President)
How many dots?
When you use dots, note that the number is regulated. It is usually three dots within a clause and three or four at the end of it. The practice whereby many people just drop whatever number of dots they like is not acceptable:
I want to thank the chairman, the deputy, secretary …… and everyone, indeed. (Wrong)
I want to thank the chairman, the deputy, secretary … and everyone, indeed. (Correct because you have just three dots.)
Also, don’t forget to leave a space before and after the dots, and a space in-between the dots:
He jumped down from the car……. dashed into the front of it …….and started dancing! (Wrong ellipses because they are too many while the writer also failed to maintain standard spacing.) Compare:
He jumped down from the car … dashed to the front of it … and started dancing!
I guess….…….maybe you don’t want me to be there. (Wrong)
I guess … maybe you don’t want me to be there. (Correct)
Experts enjoy disagreeing when it comes to how best to indicate ellipsis in writing. This particularly applies to how many ellipses to use when the omission comes at the end of a sentence, thus linking the next. While some say it should be three, others say it is four. However, none ever says it should be more than four.
My suggestion in this circumstance is that four is ideal. This, according to authorities concerned, is the full stop (that should originally end the sentence) plus the normal three periods that mark an ellipsis:
I have no problem with whatever he said or didn’t say…. All I want is peace.
Nigeria is a land rich with milk, honey and more…. I love this land. In spite of all the challenges we are facing.
In the other aspect that does not involve the use of dots, ellipsis helps to avoid repetition. Once your listener or reader can understand your statement without repeating some elements, you can leave them out:
She got home, she took her bath, she had dinner and she went to bed. (Wrong)
She got home, took her bath, had dinner and went to bed. (Correct)
John likes singing, John likes dancing and John likes acting. (Wrong)
John likes singing, dancing and acting. (Correct)
In many cases, you can do without ‘that’ in adverbial clauses. This is one area ellipsis is popular:
Johnson said he would be late. (Instead of Johnson said that he would be late.)
I never knew they had gone. ( Instead of I never knew that they had gone.)
Ellipsis also suggests that there are times you ought to leave some things unsaid. Some facts are, for instance, considered a kind of taboo or not suitable for particular occasions. It can be morally questionable to state such categorically. Hence, ellipsis becomes useful because, even without stating the obvious, the audience already know the fact:
I don’t like Scarlet’s dressing to the party. While her blouse was as tiny as a butterfly’s, her skirt was … Anyway, that is not my cup of tea.
Although the writer allows the sentence to trail off, he has said a lot about the skirt.
On the other hand, ellipsis can make language become so trendy that advertisers often fall in love with it:
For maximum fun? Grab a Dolly Juice.
Need quality entertainment? Grab a copy!
In the first statement, ‘Are you searching or Are you in need of’ is omitted. In the second, ‘Do you’ is omitted but the context is clear.
Answers to last week’s assignment
- I have to prepare something else for dinner. I have … rice left.
(a) Some few (b) a few (c) LITTLE (d) a little
- … of the governors are doing well.
(a) A FEW (b) Fews (c) Some few (d) Little
- The … panel is headed by Prof. Aderibigbe.
(a) Three man (b) THREE-MAN (c) three man’s (d) three-men
Those who got all the answers right
Ahisu Celestine, Afolabi Olalekan, Tunde Egbedokun, A.B. Adejumo, Daniel Ighakpe, Angela Mosadoluwa, Fasooto Ademola, Mosobalaje Ademola Azeez, Kolawole Kareem, Wole Ogunsade, Daramola Oloniruha, Rotimi Jaiyeoba, Jegede Tosin, Emmanuel Oni, Hussainat Dawuda, Akin Gandonu, Tayo Hunsinu, Halimat Awonuga, Ayomuiyiwa Ayoade, Iheanacho Chukwudi, Timothy Olufayo, Ehi Emhonyon, Adebayo Sam, Gani Oladipo, Effiong Archibong, Esther Padonu, Fisayo Durojaye, Ayo Olukayode, Sylvanus S. Aburime, Godwin Akpoghome, Oladipupo Muhammed, Abiodun Elesin, Roland Olisa, Onugu Emetu, Eigbokhan Cynthia, Seyi Adewuyi, Ifeanyichukwu Ibekwe, Ejemasa Lucky, Ulee Taara, Aransiola Oluwole, Emmanuel Oni, Muoka Johnny, Moshood Afolabi, Taara Ekan, Ifeanyichukwu Ibekwe, Oladipo Isaac, Egoma Ilokwu, Hussainat Dawuda, Seyi Adewuyi, Arokoyo Sylvester, Timothy Olufayo, Folashade Isreal, Obafemi Oluyomi, Risikat Oduwole, Omolade Damilola, Mustapha Alabi, Biola Fagbola, Aman Joshua, Olawale Ayodeji, Obembe Eyitayo, Okwe Abraham and Alonge Seun.
Others who also did well
Abduwakil Ashafa, Jacob Francis, Kanu Praise, Ehi Emhonyon, Adegoke Tiwalola, Oludare Olufade, Azeez Monsuru, Gbadeb Olagoke, Japhley B. V., Ayomuyiwa Ayoade, Egoma Ilokwu, Akinyinka Adefunke, Babatunde Akinwale, Stanley Nduagu, Rotimi Oyedele, Nnamdi Chiegbo, Usadth Faisol, Prince Agunbiade, Ifenilo Nwabudike, Kolawole Kareem, Ishola Oluwatoyin, Foluke Ogunsanya, Belo Adunni, Uturu Ikenne, Tunde Anibaba, Fada Gbolahan, Nnmadi Chiegbo, Ishola Oluwatoyin, james Benita, Ejemasa Lucky, Sanni Amjos, Moshood Anisere, Adelugba. M.S., Shola M., Uthman Kayode, Gabriel Opute, Bankole Dayo, David Osita, Toyin Oyewoga, Ngwu Uchenna, Kafar Adewale, Adeleke Taiwo, Opute Dorcas, Ven Falodun, Yekeen Mutiu, Adeleke Olatunde, Effiong Archibong, Adegoke Tiwaola, Awonowo Adekunle, Kanu Praise, Prince Agunbiade, Oludare Olufade, Tijani Amidu, Moshood Afolabi, Roland Olisa, Abdwakil Ashafa, Ustadh Faisol, Aremu Afolabi, Fatimah Ishaq, Rotimi Oyedele, Babatunde Akinwale, Francis Ezeanya, Omodu Favour, Anjola Adelana, Paula Victor, Ibifubara Darka, Ontoye George, David Birabebe, Benedict Usigbe, Amalli Uche, Michelle George, Victor Ejiro, Bode Paul, Nuale Maxell-Ileh, Godspower Favour, Kelvin Ronel, Isaac Jesubami, Daniel Joy, Orluwene Kelsey and Olali Dorcas.
Homework
- Why are you … me with the fuel issue?
(a) bordering (b) bothering (c) boardering (d) borders
- Hardly had the man left … the thunder struck.
(a) as (b) than (c) when (d) for
- I think we should round … the programme now.
(a) off (b) out (c) up (d) on
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