Should there be three dots instead?

Kohyoongliat · January 1, 2019, 3:24am

Jackson, a researcher with the CDC, explained: “AIDS is still a
massive problem …. It is a pressing
issue.

Should there be three dots instead of four dots ?

Thanks.

miot · January 1, 2019, 5:09pm

Interesting question, Kohyoongliat. I wonder whether there is a rule for this case at all.
I myself add some dots without wondering about the number.
Thanks for bringing it up.

Luschen · January 1, 2019, 8:51pm

Yes, three dots:

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ellipsis

A mark consisting of three periods, historically with spaces in between, before, and after them “ . . . ”, nowadays a single character “…” Ellipses are used to indicate that words have been omitted in a text or that they are missing or illegible.

Kohyoongliat · January 1, 2019, 8:52pm

Could someone answer my question, please? Thanks.

Torsten · January 1, 2019, 10:07pm

Hasn’t TJ answered your question by saying it should be three dots?

Kohyoongliat · January 1, 2019, 11:27pm

Thanks, Torsten and Luschen.

I think Luschen and I posted at about the same time because I didn’t see his reply just after I posted my request.

Anglophile · January 3, 2019, 5:35am

Yes, an ellipsis consists of THREE dots, usually.