abbreviation
etc.
et SET-uh-ruh
Etc. (abbreviation) means And other things of the same kind; used at the end of a list to show it could be continued. Example: “Bring a pen, notebook, calculator, etc.”
abbreviation
1
And other things of the same kind; used at the end of a list to show it could be continued.
"Bring a pen, notebook, calculator, etc."
"The shop sells rope, canvas, tarpaulins, etc."
2
informal Used to suggest, sometimes wearily, that the rest of a familiar sequence is too obvious or tedious to spell out.
"He gave the usual speech about teamwork, commitment, etc."
How to use etc.
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA short way of saying 'and other things like these' at the end of a list.
When to use it
Fine in ordinary prose and notes; avoid in formal academic writing, where a complete list or 'such as' is preferred.
Memory tip
Keep the full stop even mid-sentence, and use only one when 'etc.' ends the sentence.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
and so on, etc.
books, papers, etc.
etc., etc.
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Etymology
An abbreviation of Latin et cetera, meaning 'and the rest'.
Synonyms
View more →
and so on
and so forth
and the like
et cetera
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.
What is the meaning of etc.?
"etc." (abbreviation) means and other things of the same kind; used at the end of a list to show it could be continued.
