Which term refers to the leaving out of elements of a sentence because they are unnecessary or because their sense can be worked out from the immediate context?

• A. Ellipsis
• B. Display Questions
• C. Face Validity
• D. Notional Syllabus

Answer: (A)

Ellipsis refers to leaving out elements of a sentence that aren’t needed because the meaning can be inferred from the surrounding context. For example, in a sentence like “She can sing, and he can, too,” the verb phrase after “can” is understood and omitted in the second clause. The context supplies the missing part, so the sentence remains clear and concise. The punctuation mark for omission (an ellipsis) is related, but the core idea is the omission itself. This phenomenon occurs in both spoken and written language to avoid repetition and keep communication smooth. The other terms describe different ideas—not about dropping words because they’re recoverable from context.