Ellipsis and Substitution

Ellipsis and substitution are techniques used to avoid repetition in English by omitting words (ellipsis) or replacing them with substitute words (substitution). These create more natural, concise, and sophisticated communication.

Ellipsis

Ellipsis is the omission of words that can be understood from context. The missing words are often indicated by three dots (...) in writing, but in speech, they're simply left out.

Types of Ellipsis

1. Nominal Ellipsis

Omitting nouns when they can be understood from context:

Full: I'll have a coffee and she'll have a coffee too.
Ellipsis: I'll have a coffee and she'll have one too.
Full: These books are interesting, but those books are boring.
Ellipsis: These books are interesting, but those [books] are boring.

2. Verbal Ellipsis

Omitting verbs or verb phrases:

Full: "Are you coming?" "Yes, I am coming."
Ellipsis: "Are you coming?" "Yes, I am."
Full: She said she would help, and she did help.
Ellipsis: She said she would help, and she did.

3. Clausal Ellipsis

Omitting entire clauses:

Full: If it is possible, we'll meet tomorrow.
Ellipsis: If [it is] possible, we'll meet tomorrow.
Full: While I was walking to work, I met an old friend.
Ellipsis: While [I was] walking to work, I met an old friend.

Situational Ellipsis

In informal speech, we often omit words when the situation makes the meaning clear:

Questions

Full: Do you want some coffee?
Ellipsis: [Do you want some] Coffee?

Responses

Full: I would like Two tickets, please.
Ellipsis: [I would like] Two tickets, please.

Instructions

Full: You should Turn left at the corner.
Ellipsis: [You should] Turn left [at the corner].

Substitution

Substitution replaces words with substitute words to avoid repetition. Common substitute words include: one/ones, do/does/did, so, not, there.

Nominal Substitution

One/Ones

Replace singular/plural countable nouns:

Repetition: I like this car, but I prefer that car.
Substitution: I like this car, but I prefer that one.
Repetition: These shoes are expensive. Those shoes are cheaper.
Substitution: These shoes are expensive. Those ones are cheaper.

So

Replaces clauses after believe, think, hope, expect, suppose, imagine, assume:

Full: "Will it rain?" "I think it will rain."
Substitution: "Will it rain?" "I think so."
Full: "Is she coming?" "I hope she is coming."
Substitution: "Is she coming?" "I hope so."

Not

Replaces negative clauses:

Full: "Will you be late?" "I hope I will not be late."
Substitution: "Will you be late?" "I hope not."

Verbal Substitution

Do/Does/Did

Replace verb phrases to avoid repetition:

Repetition: "You should study more." "I study as much as I can."
Substitution: "You should study more." "I do as much as I can."
Repetition: She works harder than he works.
Substitution: She works harder than he does.

Clausal Substitution

So

Replaces positive clauses:

Full: "The weather will be nice." "If the weather will be nice, we'll go out."
Substitution: "The weather will be nice." "If so, we'll go out."

If not

Replaces negative conditions:

Full: "Maybe he won't come." "If he doesn't come, we'll start without him."
Substitution: "Maybe he won't come." "If not, we'll start without him."

Complex Ellipsis and Substitution

Comparative Ellipsis

In comparisons, we often omit repeated elements:

Full: She is taller than he is tall.
Ellipsis: She is taller than he [is].
Full: I have more books than you have books.
Ellipsis: I have more books than you [have].

Gapping

Omitting verbs in coordinate structures:

Full: John studies history and Mary studies mathematics.
Gapping: John studies history and Mary [studies] mathematics.
Full: I bought apples and she bought oranges.
Gapping: I bought apples and she [bought] oranges.

Pseudo-Gapping

Omitting main verbs but keeping auxiliaries:

Full: I haven't finished my work, but she has finished hers.
Pseudo-gapping: I haven't finished my work, but she has hers.

Context-Dependent Ellipsis

Question-Answer Pairs

Answers often contain ellipsis:

Q: "Where are you going?"
A: [I'm going] To the store.
Q: "What did you buy?"
A: [I bought] Some bread and milk.

Coordinated Structures

In coordinated sentences, shared elements are often omitted:

Full: I like coffee and I like tea.
Ellipsis: I like coffee and [I like] tea.

Register and Style

Formal Writing

More explicit, less ellipsis:

We have completed the first phase, and we will complete the second phase next month.

Informal Speech

More ellipsis and substitution:

We've completed the first phase, and [we'll complete] the second [phase] next month.

Academic Writing

Strategic use of substitution:

The first experiment yielded positive results. The second one was less successful.

Common Mistakes

1. Unclear reference

Unclear: I bought apples and oranges. The red ones were sweet.
Clear: I bought red and green apples. The red ones were sweet.

2. Inappropriate ellipsis

Incorrect: [I] Want coffee.
Correct: I want coffee. (in formal contexts)

3. Wrong substitute word

Incorrect: "Is he coming?" "I think it."
Correct: "Is he coming?" "I think so."

Practice Exercises

Rewrite using appropriate substitution:

I have a red car and John has a blue car.
"Will she pass the exam?" "I believe she will pass the exam."
You work hard, but Tom doesn't work hard.

Answers:

I have a red car and John has a blue one.
"Will she pass the exam?" "I believe so."
You work hard, but Tom doesn't.

Identify the ellipsis:

Coffee or tea? (ellipsis: Do you want)
While reading, I fell asleep. (ellipsis: I was)
She can swim and so can I. (ellipsis: swim)

Complete with appropriate substitutes:

"Are you ready?" "I think ____."
These books are interesting, but those ____ are boring.
I haven't finished, but she ____.

Answers:

so
ones
has