Dot Dot Dot: Using Ellipses for Omissions à la Bluebook

Sometimes when you’re quoting a case or other source, you want to leave out some words. This is called an omission, and the Bluebook rule for it is 5.3.

According to this rule, you should ask yourself whether the beginning , middle, or end of the sentence is being omitted. Here’s an example for each. Pay attention to the spaces between the dots, these actually count for something in the Bluebook. Also, note the three dots in the second  example, and the four dots in the last example.

Beginning omitted – “[P]oodles generally look great in chunky winter sweaters, and can rock the booties, too.”

Middle omitted – “Standard poodles generally look great in . . . sweaters, and can rock the booties, too.”

End omitted – “Standard poodles generally look great in chunky winter sweaters . . . .”