ELLIPTICAL EAT: CHARACTERISTICS, USES, EXAMPLES - LITERATURE - 2025

The elliptical comma is one that replaces the verb, either because it is repeated in parallel clauses or because it is implicit. In general, ellipsis consists of the suppression of some linguistic element without affecting the grammatical rules. This can be seen in the prayer Mary likes summer; to Juan, the winter.

Now, with respect to the comma, this is a spelling sign that is used to separate words within a sentence or sentences within a sentence. From the phonic point of view, it represents a minimal pause in speech. This pause is used to separate one sentence from the other that precedes it in the sequence.

On the other hand, parallel clauses are those that have an identical or similar grammatical organization. These are used to add descriptive elements that help complete the idea.

Occasionally they are based on the same verb and in these cases this repetition is avoided by omitting it and separating the rest of the elements with a comma.

Precisely when this occurs, it is an elliptical coma or ellipsis coma. In general, commas and - in particular - elliptical commas are necessary to give speeches precision and clarity.

The latter, in addition, constitutes an important element of syntactic cohesion and helps to reinforce the linguistic economy.

Elliptical coma characteristics

Syntactic cohesion factor

The elliptical comma represents an element of syntactic or textual cohesion. This feature allows each of the sentences that make up a text to be interpreted in relation to the others.

Likewise, through it, all those redundant elements that do not provide clarity to the speech can be avoided. On the other hand, its use increases conciseness and expressive dynamism.

Phonological effect

The use of the elliptical comma, as is usual with this punctuation mark, generates a particular phonological effect. Thus, a pause occurs where the verb should go and, sometimes, other syntactic elements that accompany it.

Often this pause is reinforced with suspension tones. A toneme is a clearly perceptible feature in a phonic group, or group of sounds. The suspension is the one that characterizes exclamatory sentences.

Context of use

Elliptical commas are used in both coordinated sentences and juxtaposed sentences. Coordinates are simple sentences linked with a conjunction. These do not depend syntactically on each other, and their link (and, nor, or) establishes the relationship between them.

On the other hand, juxtaposed have the same characteristics of coordinate sentences, except that they are not linked with a conjunction. These are separated by a comma or a semicolon.

Thus, the sentence Alice bought the food, and John, the drinks is an example of a coordinated sentence (with the conjunction and) and an elliptical comma. The latter replaces bought. The same example, but using juxtaposition, it would be: Alice bought the food; Juan, the drinks.

Applications

The elliptical comma is used to replace the verb and other complements of the verb when it is repeated. In the sentence When I had a cold I drank chicken soup, and when I had a cough, thyme tea, it is clearly appreciated that the coma replaces the verb form I took.

In case of having more than two parallel sentences, the enumerative comma becomes a semicolon. Such is the case of: When I had a cold I drank chicken soup; when I had a cough, thyme tea; when I had a fever, a warm bath and when I had a headache, tea with chamomile.

Also, the elliptical comma is used when - by context - the verb is implied. This is very frequent in the headlines of the press: Minister of Economy, to the wall. The unspoken verb, deduced from the context, is go or go.

Also, unspoken verbs are often used in advertising slogans. This is seen in There are things that money cannot buy. For everything else, MasterCard.

Examples

Coordinated sentences

Sentence 1: A billion dollars can help a developing nation.

Sentence 2: A portion of that billion dollars can help a developing nation, too.

These two sentences have a parallel structure. The construction of both - with some differences - is subject + being able to help + prepositional phrase.

These can be linked with a coordinating nexus: A billion dollars can help a developing nation, and a portion of those billion dollars can also help a developing nation.

As can be seen, the sentence is unnecessarily repetitive. A better stylistic option is the avoidance of certain elements and the use of an elliptical comma.

So a more concise option would be: A billion dollars can help a developing nation, and some of it, too.

In this case, the pronoun they stands in for those billion dollars. For its part, the elliptical comma is used instead of can help a developing nation.

In this way, it not only replaces the verb, but its complements. The conjunction and was used as the coordinating link.

Juxtaposed sentences

The mechanism for using elliptical commas in juxtaposed sentences does not differ much from that of coordinates. The difference is that these are separated by a semicolon instead of the coordinating conjunction. Note the following parallel sentences:

Sentence 1: Rye bread is widely consumed in European countries such as Germany and the Netherlands.

Sentence 2: The baguette is widely consumed in France.

Sentence 3: The bagel is widely consumed in New York and Montreal.

Sentence 4: Loaf bread is widely consumed in Spain.

All these sentences can be juxtaposed. However, if certain elements are not replaced, this could be very long and not very dynamic. This happens because its structure is parallel: subject + is consumed + a lot + prepositive phrase.

Now, if the repeated elements are omitted and the elliptical comma is used, the result is: Rye bread is widely consumed in European countries such as Germany and the Netherlands; the baguette, in France; the bagel, in New York and Montreal; loaf bread, in Spain.

References

1. Martínez, JA (2004). Write without mistakes: basic spelling manual. Oviedo: University of Oviedo.
2. Huber, RB and, Snider, AC (2006). Influencing Through Argument. New York: IDEA.
3. Ávila, F. (2003). Where does the comma go? Bogotá: Editorial Norma SA
4. Rodríguez Guzmán, JP (2005). Graphic grammar to the juampedrino mode. Barcelona: Carena Editions.
5. Maqueo, AM and Méndez V. (2002). Spanish. Language and Communication. Mexico: Editorial Limusa.
6. Paredes, EA (2002). Reading Handbook. Mexico: Editorial Limusa.
7. Ávila, F. (2013, September 03) The elliptical comma / Language in time. Taken from eltiempo.com.
8. Benito Lobo, JA (1992). Practical scoring manual. Madrid: Editorial Edinumen.