You've probably seen the three-dot ellipsis in everything from thesis papers to text messages. It indicates the omission of one or more words or a trailing off of speech. I'm using it in this sentence ...

The three dots extend from the end of the phrase like a ledge into the surrounding silence. They co-mingle the thrill of possibility with the fear of irresolution. Who can say what varmints lurk, what ...

As the global pandemic pushes more communication from in-person to text, there is even greater opportunity for confusion over digital messages. In the past six months, you may have appeared ...

This is an excerpt from Post copy editor Bill Walsh’s monthly Grammar Geekery chat, which takes place the first Tuesday of each month. Chatters wanted to explore the many punctuation marks that ...