suspension point
- noun
- /səˈspɛnʃən pɔɪnt/
- Specialized
- You should insert suspension points when omitting part of a quotation.
Examples
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The author used suspension points to suggest that the character's thought trailed off.
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A series of suspension points can indicate hesitation or a pause in dialogue.
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What is a suspension point?
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The suspension point is essential.
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In writing, using suspension points can create suspense and keep readers engaged.
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When quoting someone, you should use suspension points to indicate that you've left out some words.
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The character paused mid-sentence, leaving a trail of suspension points to convey their uncertainty.
Synonyms
A pause in speech or writing showing something is left unsaid
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a point where execution is suspended' is directly and transparently derived from 'suspension' (a temporary pause) combined with 'point' (a specific stage or position). This follows standard English compounding patterns and is cross-linguistically intuitive, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the general meaning even without programming experience.
Etymology
Suspension point The name comes from the three little dots '...' that show a thought is held back or a part of a sentence is left out; the word suspension means 'to hold' and point means a dot. So suspension points show a 'pause' in speech or that words were omitted.