Plural of Ellipsis
“Ellipsis” forms the irregular plural “ellipses.” This applies when counting more than one omission, ellipsis construction, punctuation ellipsis, or other countable use of the noun. The number question is separate from how an ellipsis mark should be spaced or formatted in a particular style.
The plural of “ellipsis” is “ellipses.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| one omission / ellipsis item | ellipsis | Singular. |
| more than one | ellipses | Standard plural. |
| spacing or typography question | style-specific guidance | A separate Writing task. |
Quick tests
Plural-choice test
Are you referring to more than one ellipsis?
If yes: Use “ellipses.”
If no: Use singular “ellipsis.”
Caveat: This guide answers number only; punctuation spacing and typographic treatment depend on a separate style decision.
Examples
The paragraph contains two ellipses.
More than one ellipsis takes “ellipses.”
The editor inserted an ellipsis.
One takes singular “ellipsis.”
Several ellipses appear in the quoted passages.
The irregular plural is used for multiple instances.
Further guidance
Core difference
Use “ellipses” for more than one ellipsis.
Fast Test
If there is one, use “ellipsis”; if there is more than one, use “ellipses.”
Usage Boundary
Do not confuse plural formation with editorial rules for three-dot marks.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- ELLIPSES | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Cambridge explicitly records ellipses as the plural of ellipsis.
- ELLIPSIS | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Cambridge distinguishes ellipsis as the singular term in grammar/punctuation and geometry-related senses.