et cetera and etc.

The Latin phrase et cetera (literally and other things), used in English to mean "and so on," "and so forth" or "and the like," is the source of many errors.

Et cetera can be pronounced in two ways:

[et SE-tɘ-rɘ] or [et-SE-trɘ]

Note that there is no k or x in this phrase: the pronunciation [ek SE tɘ rɘ] is incorrect.

When spelled out, et cetera is usually written as two words, but it can also be written as one: etcetera.

However, it is more common to use the abbreviation etc. (The c comes last in this abbreviation; the misspelling ect. is a common error.)

Note: Whether written in full or as an abbreviation, this Latin term does not need to be italicized, because it has become part of the English language.

The abbreviation etc. is used to show that a list of at least two items is incomplete. The list may include either things or people:

• Karen tries not to eat chips, chocolate, etc., even though she loves junk food.
• Bart had read many bestselling Canadian authors: Michael Ondaatje, Margaret Laurence, Wayson Choy, etc.

Etc. can also be used at the end of a bulleted list:

• Michael Ondaatje
• Margaret Laurence
• Wayson Choy
• etc.

Note: Some guides suggest avoiding the use of etc. in formal writing. As an alternative, you can use such as to introduce a list, or follow the list with a phrase such as "and so on":

• Maneesha loves any sports activities involving water, such as sailing, swimming and surfing.
• Maneesha loves any sports activities involving water: sailing, swimming, surfing and so on.

Period: The abbreviation etc. always ends in a period. If the abbreviation falls at the end of a sentence, a second period is not used:

• Alva loves mysteries by Canadian writers: Lou Allin, Thomas King, Louise Penny, etc.

However, if the abbreviation is part of a series within parentheses, a second period is used after the closing parenthesis to mark the end of the sentence:

• Alva loves mysteries by Canadian writers (Lou Allin, Thomas King, Louise Penny, etc.).

Commas: A comma is always used before etc. A second comma is used after it as well, unless it falls at the end of the sentence or is followed by another mark of punctuation, such as a parenthesis or semicolon:

• We brought popcorn, chips, pretzels, etc., to munch on during the movie.
• We brought snacks (popcorn, chips, pretzels, etc.) to munch on during the movie.
• For snacking during the movie, we brought popcorn, chips, pretzels, etc.; but we were too full from dinner to eat them.

Do not use etc. when the list is not obvious to readers:

• Grigor gathered the tools he would need: swivel knife, veiner, beveler and seeder. [not swivel knife, veiner, etc.]

Do not use and before etc. (et already means and):

• Sandy and Marcy saw many animals at the zoo: crocodiles, elephants, giraffes, etc. [not and etc.]

Do not use etc. after such as (such as already implies that the list is incomplete):

• Christopher was excited to visit countries such as Australia, Japan, and England. [not such as Australia, Japan, England, etc.]