Ellipses
April 15, 2026 · View on GitHub
Guidance
Don't use ellipses in technical writing. If a menu command or UI label includes an ellipsis, omit it when referencing the label in documentation.
Examples
Do:
Select Print to open the print dialog.
Select Save As to save a copy of the file.
Don't:
Select Print... to open the print dialog.
The configuration is loading...
Notes
Ellipses in UI labels (such as Print... or Save As...) signal that selecting the item opens a dialog. Don't include the ellipsis when referencing these labels in documentation — the surrounding context makes it clear a dialog will open.
Don't use ellipses to indicate trailing off, create suspense, or imply that more information exists. Use a complete sentence instead.
The word "ellipses" (or "ellipsis") is fine to use when referring to the punctuation mark itself in explanatory content.