How to use the ellipsis in AP style

The ellipsis is a useful but often misused punctuation mark. It’ most used for indicating that something has been removed from a quote, but their actual usage can be a bit tricky.

Let’s take a dive back into the wonderful world of AP style.

How do I write an ellipsis?

In AP style, an ellipsis is three periods with a space on either side. Like … so. You need both the spaces and all three periods.

However, ellipses are often combined with other punctuation marks, including periods. This is confusing since ellipses are also periods.

If a full sentence comes before your ellipsis, just put a space between the period and your ellipsis: I want to be the very best, like no one ever was. … To tame them is my cause.

Same procedure if the sentence ends with another punctuation mark, like a question mark or colon: mark, space, ellipsis.

If you’re using an ellipsis to show that material has been removed in two subsequent paragraphs, use it at the beginning of each. And don’t use ellipses at the beginning or end of direct quotes — only in the middle.