How to Use Etcetera
The Latin term etcetera, or et cetera has been adopted into the English language. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines et cetera as: and others, especially of the same kind. The listing above that is "etc." which is defined as: the abbreviation for et cetera. Dictionary dot com includes: and so forth in its definition of etcetera. The fact that these dictionaries contain the term make it accepted for use in standard writing. Use an accepted form of the term according to the specific grammatical rules that apply.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Write etcetera to continue a list of items that define a category. "Bring some drinks for the picnic: lemonade, punch, iced tea, etcetera."
-
2
Include the appropriate punctuation for etcetera. Use a serial comma between the last listed item and etcetera, although this makes an exception to the punctuation rule.
-
-
3
Choose between four acceptable written forms of etcetera. The word can be written as: et cetera or etcetera. The abbreviated form most commonly used is etc. Etcetera is also often notated with three periods.
-
4
Use the common abbreviated form of et cetera correctly. Write it in lower case without italics and follow it with a period: "etc." Only one period is needed if etc. falls at the end of a sentence.
-
5
Use etcetera correctly as it is defined. The definition begins with "and," so it is incorrect to write: "and etcetera."
-
6
Avoid questionable uses of et cetera. The writings of William Strunk Jr. listed in the "Elements of Style" on bartleby dot com includes common misuses of etc. Strunk says it is incorrect to use etcetera after a list that opens with: "such as," or "for example." He also warns against using etc. behind a list that is already complete, in reference to people, or after a list with insufficient definition as to what else may be included.
-
1
