In typography, the three periods (…) used to indicate that something is missing (as in the shortening of a quotation) or that a conversation has stopped. An ellipsis is commonly set open (i.e., a word space before and after it, as in "The end is near, or... it seemed to be"). If the ellipsis occurs at the end of a sentence, and the sentence is complete, the period is set close, followed by the three points (as in "The end is near, or at least it seemed to be...."). The dots of the ellipsis should be set with spaces between them, but they should be fixed spaces, as some justification programs may vary the spacing between them depending upon the justification requirements of the line in question.
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