SmithWriting Blog

how do I use it?

So glad you asked.

Comprised of three dots called ellipsis points, an ellipsis is a punctuation mark used to indicate an omission. It’s also used to express a pause or trailing off of thought.

Some examples:

“When I’m elected mayor of this town, I’ll clean up the streets like I promised and lower taxes for every hardworking family.”

If that’s too many words for you, you might change the quote to read as follows:

“When I’m elected … I’ll clean up the streets … and lower taxes.”

He’s pretty sure he knows what he’s going to be for Halloween … but he still won’t commit.

I really thought that the Red Sox would win the World Series, but …

Formatting notes:

• There should be a space on each side of the ellipsis.
• If an ellipsis follows a period, put the period at the end of the sentence, then add a space, then add the ellipsis. (example: She replied, “I know that there are a lot of fish in the sea. …”)

No wonder the ellipsis is freelance copywriter Beth Z.’s favorite punctuation mark!

For more grammar lessons, please read the following posts:

• Where’s the semicolon love?
• Put it in parentheses (please)
• The colon: an unappreciated mark with an unfortunate name
• Read this post about exclamation points!
• Save the apostrophes!
• Delete the caps lock key
• Quoth the writer, “Nevermore”

Filed by rebecca at 2:38 pm under Grammar guide
12 Comments

Like many word lovers, I’m a big fan of neologisms—new words or new meanings for established words.

Although some of you may already be familiar with these, I think they’re worth repeating (because they’re just so good!):

Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.

Coffee (n.), the person upon whom one coughs.

Gargoyle (n.), olive-flavored mouthwash.

Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answer the door in your nightgown.

Oyster (n.), a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.

And a few of my own:

Blockhead (n.), in football, an illegal defensive move.

Ex-terminator (n.), Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Superficial (adj.), containing a large volume of coldblooded vertibrates.

Syllogize (v.), to tell foolish stories about the deceased.

What neologisms do you have to offer?

Filed by rebecca at 5:06 pm under For the love of words
12 Comments

Last month, my associate Kim and I had the pleasure of donating our time and copywriting services to CreateAthon, a 24-hour creative blitz during which advertising agencies and design firms around the country work on a pro bono basis for local nonprofit organizations.

We worked with smith&jones, a full-service marketing and advertising agency in Sturbridge, Massachusetts—the only New England agency that participates in this annual event.

Although we admit that we did not work all 24 hours, Kim and I are very proud of the advertisement, poster, and brochure we wrote for a local senior center. It was very rewarding—and invigorating—to be part of a creative team of people volunteering our talents to help our local community.

We can’t wait to participate again next year!

Learn more about CreateAthon.
Check out smith&jones’ CreateAthon blog.

Filed by rebecca at 6:04 pm under Copywriting
8 Comments