Which concept refers to words omitted because their meaning is implied, resulting in a casual tone?

• A. Ellipsis
• B. Hesitation
• C. False Start
• D. Implied purpose/Overt Purpose

Answer: (A)

Ellipsis is when words are left out because their meaning is already understood from the context, which gives a casual, conversational feel. For example, saying “Want coffee?” implies “Do you want (to have) coffee?” with the words before “want” omitted but understood. This omission relies on shared understanding to keep the tone relaxed and efficient.

Hesitation involves filler sounds like um or uh and does not remove meaning; the speaker is adding pauses rather than shortening the sentence. A false start is when you begin a thought and then restart or correct it, which changes the phrasing rather than leaving words out. Implied or overt purpose refers to intent, not to dropping words to create a casual tone.