Forum: Author Hangout

I usually use ellipsis to show an extended pause that is longer than what you'd use a coma for or for when a sentence is cut off part way. In your example sentence, that seems more like what I'd use a comma for, although I guess it might work if you added descriptive txt after it like (," he said, his voice dropping suggestively at the end.)

One now, ellipsis are three dots (...) not just 2.

I don't perceive evidence of excitement or confusion beyond perhaps the excitement of "oh so." Word choices are usually better indicators than punctuation. When I read the title I thought I'd find a discussion about "!?" versus "?!" In your sample, it seems to me a dash would be appropriate. I'm attentive to that little sag, which ordinarily I wouldn't consider an aspect of breast perfection. I'd also rewrite the sentence.

She had the perfect body, the perfect breasts, with that little sag and those oh so pointed nipples—long hard nipples.

Confusion could be an ellipsis, as in pausing to gather one's thoughts or hesitation. An exclamation mark might show excitement. But more having the character jump up and down or clap their hands like a seal.

But your example isn't one for either confusion or excitement. I'd put an em-dash before "very long and hard nipples." Or maybe a comma depending how much emphasis I wanted to put on it.

Use the forum search for em-dash ellipsis. You'll turn up several threads where the merits of the two types of punctuation are debated for examples of pauses or hesitations in speech.

AJ