Ellipsis spacing
Ellipsis spacing is the rule for how much space appears between an ellipsis and the words around it, which varies by style guide.
What is ellipsis spacing?
Ellipsis spacing is the convention for how space is placed before and after an ellipsis in running text. Some guides close the ellipsis tight against the words around it ("So...that"), others add a space after ("So... that") and Chicago style uses a spaced "dot space dot space dot" pattern with a space on each side (" . . . "). The spacing choice interacts with the ellipsis form, and it affects how the mark flows into the rest of the sentence.
Why does ellipsis spacing matter?
Ellipsis spacing matters because inconsistent rules inside a single piece of writing look untidy, and readers notice more than you might expect. The space around the mark also affects how it reads: a tight "So...that" feels abrupt, a spaced "So... that" feels relaxed and a Chicago-style " . . . " feels formal. Picking one rule and enforcing it is a small detail that gives copy a more finished look.
How do you use ellipsis spacing?
Decide whether your style inserts a space after the ellipsis before the next word, such as "So... that" with a space after the dots.
Decide whether spaces appear between the dots themselves, since Chicago style uses ". . ." while most other styles write "..." with no internal spaces.
Document the rule in your brand style guide and apply the same pattern to quoted material, dialogue and product microcopy.
