etc.
What is the opposite of etc.? Here is what we hold, with its meaning and related words.
Abbreviation — And other things of the same kind; used at the end of a list to show it could be continued.
How to use etc.
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
and so on, etc.
books, papers, etc.
etc., etc.
Fine in ordinary prose and notes; avoid in formal academic writing, where a complete list or 'such as' is preferred.
Etymology
An abbreviation of Latin et cetera, meaning 'and the rest'.
Full origin of etc. →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 'etc.' and 'et al.'?
'Etc.' means 'and the rest' and is used for things, ideas or actions. 'Et al.' means 'and others' and is used for people, especially co-authors of a cited work. Use 'etc.' for objects and 'et al.' for names.
Should you write 'and etc.'?
No. 'Et' already means 'and', so 'and etc.' says 'and and the rest'. Write just 'etc.', and never use it after 'such as' or 'for example', since those phrases already signal an incomplete list.
Is 'ect.' a correct spelling?
No, though it is one of the most common misspellings in English. The Latin is et cetera, so the abbreviation is e-t-c with the 'c' before the 't' only in 'cetera'. Remember it as 'et' plus 'c' for cetera.
