Which punctuation mark is represented by three periods?

• A. Colon
• B. Semicolon
• C. Ellipsis
• D. Quotation Marks

Answer: (C)

The punctuation mark represented by three periods is known as an ellipsis. An ellipsis is used to indicate the omission of words, a pause in speech, or an unfinished thought. In writing, it can create suspense or convey a trailing off of a thought, allowing the reader to infer what is left unsaid.

For example, if a sentence reads, "I was thinking...," the ellipsis suggests there is more to the thought that isn't being explicitly stated. This can effectively create a sense of intrigue or question in the reader's mind.

In contrast, a colon serves to introduce a list or explanation, a semicolon connects closely related independent clauses, and quotation marks are used to enclose spoken words or direct quotes. Each of these punctuation marks has a distinct purpose that does not align with the function of an ellipsis.