Those Dots–Ellipsis

Occasionally in transcribing legal and other documents for genealogical work, those three dots (…) are used when certain material has been left out or a quotation. Generally the omitted material is redundant and in the interest of brevity and clarity it is left out. Occasionally, legal material that is not applicable to the issue being discussed will be removed.

The genealogist may at times decide to remove certain material from a document and replace it with the ellipsis to indicate that something has been left out. A few reminders:

  • One should always use the ellipsis when material has been omitted from a reference or quotation from an original record.
  • One should never leave out relevant information.
  • One should not leave out items so that the remaining portion makes a suggestion not supported by the original material from which the quotation was taken.

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