Automatic Ellipses
Ellipses are required to be dot-space-dot-space-dot, not dot-dot-dot, which is the default in Word and OpenOffice. To make correct ellipses that break correctly at the end of the line, it is best to use Ctrl-Shift-Spacebar instead of a simple space. So, to create an ellipsis type: [.] + ([Ctrl] + [Shift] + [Spacebar]) + [.] + ([Ctrl] + [Shift] + [Spacebar]) + [.].
This could become annoying to do often, so it is good to automate it. In Word 2003:
- Click on Tools --> AutoCorrect Options...
- Under the "AutoCorrect" tab, type in the "Replace" box: "...", then type the sequence above in the "With" box.
- Hit the Add button and confirm that you want to replace the current entry for "...".
- Now when you type "..." it will automatically put in the correct ellipsis with non-breaking spaces.
The procedure is similar in OpenOffice.
- Type the above sequence in a document and copy it.
- Click on Tools --> AutoCorrect Options...
- Under the "Replace" tab, find the line with "..." in the Replace column and paste the sequence above in the "With" box.
- Click OK.
- Now when you type "..." it will automatically put in the correct ellipsis with non-breaking spaces.