An ellipsis — the three dots in the middle of a passage — denotes omitted or missing text. It does not signify a pause in speech, which should be represented with a long dash instead.

When using an ellipsis, always place a space before the first dot and after the last dot.

When an ellipsis breaks up two complete sentences, end the preceding clause with a period: “We can’t keep shooting ourselves in the foot. … We’ve beaten ourselves,” the coach said.

When an ellipsis appears in the middle of a sentence, no period should be present until the end of the complete thought: “We really enjoyed having him in our organization,” the general manager said. “The door’s always open … if he wants to return.”

Never use an ellipsis for a hesitation or pause in speech, as this may cause confusion if the reader believes some text was left out. Instead, use a long dash: “He’s just — he’s the best I’ve ever seen,” one Yankees teammate said of Aaron Judge.