ELLIPSIS

http://www.literarydevices.com/ellipsis/

Definition: An Omission of a word or short phrase easily understood in context. (unnecessary information)

It’s similar easy to think of examples of ellipsis in which words are omitted because they are unnecessary. Here are some more examples, with their linguistic terms (and words omitted in brackets):

• Gapping: I ordered the linguini, and he [ordered] the lobster.
• Stripping: I ordered the linguini, [I did] not [order] lobster.
• Verb phrase ellipsis: I’ll order the linguini and you can [order the linguini], too.
• Answer ellipsis: Who ordered the linguini? I did [order the linguini].
• Sluicing: I’ll get something to drink, but I’m not sure what [I’ll get to drink].
• Nominal ellipsis: I ordered two drinks, and Bill [ordered] one.

Ellipsis: Omission of words
Omitting a word implied by the previous clause: 
* The European soldiers killed six of the remaining villagers, the American soldiers, eight.*
* Questions are never indiscreet, answers sometimes are.

Asyndeton -- using no conjunctions to create an effect of speed or simplicity: 
* Veni. Vidi. Vici. "I came. I saw. I conquered." (As opposed to "I came, and then I saw, and then I conquered.") 
* Been there. Done that. * Bought the t-shirt. 

Polysyndeton -- using many conjunctions to achieve an overwhelming effect: All those ands make the student sound like she is completely overwhelmed! For a literary example of polysyndeton 
* This term, I am taking biology and English and history and math and music and physics and sociology." , click here.

ELLIPSIS EXAMPLES

- Come to lunch someday, [Mr. McKee] suggested.
- All right, I agreed, I’ll be glad to.
* I went to the park yesterday and Joey went (to the park) also.
* Life’s Tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late. [Benjamin Franklin]
* The average person thinks he isn't. The term "average" is omitted but understood after "isn't."

TEACHING

* Better to reign in Hell than (to) serve in Heaven. (Paradise lost, by John Milton)