The Dots (a.k.a. Ellipsis)

The ellipsis seen here: … , is commonly used to show an unheard ending. How you treat them depends on the situation.

• Case 1: the voice stops abruptly.

How to narrate Mary: Continue her voice normally right up to the dots, then pause.

• Case 2: the voice trails off.

How to narrate Mary: Lower the volume the last sentence smoothly near the end, so the last word before the dots is barely audible.

Reducing volume is best done by using your voice to talk quieter. If the result isn't what you want, you can create a fade out during the editing phase. Don't let a fade out turn your reading into a dramatization.

Avoid turning away from the mic (without reducing volume) to create a fade out. That will create a sound effect. Moving away from the mic lowers the sound level, but it also gives an effect of distance. It will be slightly jarring to the listener.

The Dashes

Dashes (—) are also inserted for various reasons. Look for patterns of usage, and build them into the structure of the reading. Here are some examples:

• Aposiopesis. The speaker deliberately stops short and leaves a statement unfinished to be supplied by the imagination, giving the impression that he is unwilling or unable to continue.

• Parallel dashes in one sentence may represent an interrupted thought:

• A single dash to represent an afterthought:

• Several dashes, used to represent exhaustion:

Note on dashes: There are actually three characters:

• the hyphen is shortest
• the en dash is middle-sized (like 2 hyphens)
• the em dash is longest (like 3 hyphens)