Periods

A period is as simple as it looks: it shows the end of a straightforward sentence. People trained on typewriters traditionally add two or three spaces between the period (or question mark or exclamation point) and the next sentence. However, when using a proportionally spaced font, such as the typeface in this paragraph, type only one space after a period.A set of three or four periods, also known as an ellipsis, can indicate dropped words or the passage of time. Use three periods to connect parts of a single sentence, four (with a space after each) to connect separate sentences. Don’t get carried away and add more periods to indicate a longer wait!

I’ve waited for my refund . . . and waited . . . and waited.

The consultant’s report recommends the following: “Show monthly sales figures to the entire workforce. . . . Replace company-wide bonuses with individual bonuses . . . set by supervisors.”