A US Copy Editor's Perspective: Ellipses per 16CMS

In a previous post I explained why I use the ellipsis keystroke [Shift+Ctrl+(period key)] in my own creations. As an author, I was kinda/sorta following 16CMS 13.48 (except for the before and after spaces required). But as the copy editor of my fiction and nonfiction alike, I was not then fixing that author-allowed shortcut per Chicago's further instructions within that same rule. Which was my personal choice as relates to my books.

NOTE: As a freelance copy editor working for different publishing houses, I am bound by any house rules that override Chicago's rules and have to proceed accordingly. Therefore, I was allowed to use the ellipsis keystroke for one, but not another. However, with a third, there are no house rules.

In that particular environment, if certain text isn't following 16CMS, I can correct it or not—noting its deviation from Chicago. So if a particular novel is consistently presenting without the serial comma, in my overview I comment that this is the author's preference and remains unchanged, even though 16CMS 6.18 states otherwise.

That way the author is informed that this construction is not per accepted US copyediting standards (although I totally disagree on the general serial comma usage; see earlier post). Whether that author keeps to her preference or decides to change it to align with 16CMS is totally up to her. But I've shared the industry standard, which is my responsibility, and the author decides how to proceed, which is the author's responsibility for works with her name on it.

So with my copy editor's hat firmly in place, I am presenting here the general rule, strictly per 16CMS 13.48, ignoring any exceptions for now.

In General

First, one normal space (not like the hard spaces discussed below) precedes the ellipsis/suspension points.

Second, an ellipsis is formed by three periods separated by two nonbreaking spaces (aka hard spaces) that won't split up those elements to make for strange line breaks, followed by a third hard space. This explains those weird-looking degree symbols we sometimes see in text. So type the first period, then the first hard space [Shift+Ctrl+(space bar)], the second period, the second hard space, then the third period, the third hard space.

That completes the ellipsis character as per 16CMS 13.48. Then continue typing your text as planned.

One of Many Exceptions

Chicago discusses further how to use the ellipsis with other punctuation, but such spawns more exceptions. So for the author's purposes, only one of these is really necessary to know. Per 16CMS 13.51, periods precede (not follow) the use of an ellipsis.

That's right. When needed, end a complete sentence with a period. Then follow the ellipsis routine above with a normal space, the ellipsis period/hard space routine and continue with your text.

Hope this added information is not confusing and easy to implement.

"If your vocation isn’t a vacation, then quit, leap, change careers."

Denise Barker, Author, Blogger, Copy Editor
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A US Copy Editor's Perspective: Three 16CMS Rules I Disagree With

This may seem odd that I, as a copy editor, whose premiere style guide is 16CMS, can take issue with any rule therein. However, as we find in other applications in life, what sounds great in theory needs some tweaking in practice.

Serial Comma. Per 16CMS 6.18. Granted there are grammar posts that say this construction is falling out of use and I say, yes! First, when both 16CMS and Web11 seek clean and uncluttered writing, unhindered by useless or repetitive words, with a spare hyphenation style, why push a duplicative final comma before and as in red, white, and blue? After all, the commas which separate a string of same-category adjectives (not cumulative adjectives) are just placeholders where an and could be instead. Example: Red, white, and blue could just as well be written as Red and white and blue (which is one example of a rhetorical device). In my own writing, I refuse to use the serial comma as illustrated above. Now I do use a serial comma variation, also found in 16CMS 6.18, that helps with clarity. Example: We are having bacon and eggs, toast and jam, pancakes and syrup, and fresh fruit compote for breakfast. In the previous sentence, the final comma helps keep a pair of food items together as if one single offering. The comma in that instance adds clarity. It is needed.

M-dash and dialogue. Per 16CMS 6.84: If the break belongs to the surrounding sentence rather than to the quoted material, the em dashes must appear outside the quotation marks. "Someday he's going to hit one of those long shots, and"—his voice turned huffy—"I won't be there to see it." Technically the only problem I have with this construction (and there are two others also within 16CMS 6.84) is how this works on an e-reader. There are no spaces around the M-dashes as used above, which is as it should be when using any of the dashes: the more common hyphen, the N-dash and this M-dash. But because of the "no spaces" construction, it makes for messy highlighting on an e-reader or just for abnormal line breaks. It must really create strange screen loads on a smaller device like a cell phone. For this reason alone, I prefer this arrangement: "Someday he's going to hit one of those long shots, and—" his voice turned huffy "—I won't be there to see it."

Ellipsis or Suspension Points. Per 16CMS 13.48, nonbreaking spaces are to separate each of the periods along with a space preceding and after the three spaced periods. I refuse to do this in my own work. I prefer the keystroke [Ctrl+Alt+(period key)] function which is streamlined and keeps the three periods together, and I also delete the fore and aft spaces as well, making the ellipsis character work like those of the dash family: with no separating spaces. It remains clear and there is no ambiguity.

Whether you stick strictly with 16CMS or deviate, be prepared to defend your choice. As we all know, our Americanized English language has tons of exceptions to most of its rules. Watch out for those as well.

Denise Barker, author + blogger + copy editor

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