Ellipsis (plural ellipses; from the , élleipsis, "omission" or "") is a series of dots (typically three, such as "…") that usually indicates an intentional omission of a word, sentence, or whole section from a text without altering its original meaning. Depending on their context and placement in a sentence, ellipses can also indicate an unfinished thought, a leading statement, a slight pause, a mysterious or echoing voice, or a nervous or awkward silence.  Aposiopesis is the use of an ellipsis to trail off into silence—for example: "But I thought he was When placed at the beginning or end of a sentence, the ellipsis can also inspire a feeling of melancholy or longing.