HTML Entity - Ellipsis
Ellipsis is a punctuation marks and special text formatting characters. This HTML entity enables web developers to display this character reliably across all browsers without encoding issues.
U+2026
…
\2026
Use this HTML entity in professional typography for dashes, ellipsis, and special punctuation. For example, — for em-dash, … for ellipsis.
About Ellipsis
The horizontal ellipsis (…) is a single typographic character made of three closely spaced dots. Its code point is U+2026, and in HTML you write …, … or ….
People often type three full stops (...) instead of the single ellipsis character. The two are different: the ellipsis is one glyph with even spacing and better line-breaking behaviour, while three periods are three separate characters that can be split across lines. Typographers prefer the single character for prose.
The ellipsis has several established uses. In prose it marks an intentional omission, a trailing-off thought, or a pause. In quotations it shows that words have been left out. In menus and buttons it can suggest that an action will open another dialog, a convention popularised by desktop software. In user interfaces it often stands in for truncated text.
Encoding and input: in HTML use …. On macOS the shortcut is Option+period. The character also appears automatically when CSS applies text-overflow: ellipsis, which is the common way to truncate long strings with a visual cue.
Accessibility deserves attention. Screen readers may announce the character or skip it, and a long run of ellipses in a heading can be confusing when read aloud. When the omission is meaningful, describe it in text; when it is decorative, ensure it does not interfere with the meaning.
Finally, be consistent. Mixing … and ... in the same document looks inconsistent. Choose the single ellipsis character for text content, and reserve three literal periods for places where a raw ASCII sequence is required, such as certain code samples.
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using three dots ... instead of the proper ellipsis …
Fix: Use … (…) for ellipsis. Three separate periods may break across lines and look uneven in professional typography.
Mistake: Using too many or too few dots for ellipsis
Fix: An ellipsis is always exactly three dots (…). Using two, four, or more dots is incorrect. Use a space before/after based on style guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the HTML entity for an ellipsis?
Use …. The numeric forms … and … render the same … character (U+2026).
Is … the same as three dots ...?
No. … is a single character; "..." is three separate periods. They look similar but differ in spacing, line breaking and code points.
How do I type an ellipsis?
On macOS use Option+period. In HTML write …. Many word processors auto-replace three periods with the ellipsis character.
Why does text show an ellipsis when it is cut off?
That is the CSS property text-overflow: ellipsis, which adds a visual truncation cue. The displayed ellipsis is generated by the browser, not stored in your text.
Do screen readers read the ellipsis?
Support varies. Some announce it or pause; others skip it. Do not rely on an ellipsis alone to carry meaning in accessible content.
When should I use "..." instead?
Use three periods when you need a plain ASCII sequence, for example in some code samples or systems that do not support the U+2026 character.
Ellipsis
Select any code to highlight it before copying.
| Unicode | U+2026 |
|---|---|
| Hex Code | … |
| HTML Code | … |
| HTML Entity | … |
| CSS Code | \2026 |
| Windows Shortcut | |
| Mac Shortcut | ⌥. |