What’s the meaning of “etc.”? Definition, explanation, and examples

What does “etc.” mean?

While Latin is considered a dead language, its influence still lives on in English. “Etc.” is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase “et cetera.” In Latin, “et” means “and.” The word “cetera” means “the rest.” It’s pronounced “et SET uh ruh.” The abbreviation “etc.” is used more frequently in writing than the whole phrase.

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“Etc.” can be put at the end of a list to mean “and so forth” or represent additional unspecified items or persons. Writers favor this common phrase so they don’t have to list everything they refer to.

How to use “etc.” in a sentence

Only use “etc.” in a sentence after listing items in the same category. Otherwise, your sentence will be confusing. “Etc.” must also always have a period at the end of it, even if “etc.” is inserted in the middle of a sentence. Check out these examples that use “etc.” perfectly:

• Chihuahuas, pugs, corgis, etc. are allowed in the small dog area of the dog park.
• He is allergic to animals with fur—dogs, cats, etc.
• I’ve been trying not to eat ice cream, chips, etc. because I’m on a diet.

How NOT to use “etc.” in a sentence

There are many times when “etc.” isn’t the right choice. Get to know these misuses to avoid adding “etc.” incorrectly:

Wrong categorization

This sentence incorrectly uses “etc.” because water does not fall under caffeinated beverages:

• Please bring caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea, water, etc.

Specific people

It’s also important to note that “etc.” cannot be used when listing the names of people. This sentence would be incorrect:

• The dinner was attended by my friends John, Mary, Taylor, etc.

When listing people, “et al.” must be used instead of “etc.” You may have seen this abbreviation if you’ve ever read a study or research paper. “Et al.” is short for “et alii” in Latin, meaning “and others.”

“Etc.” can be used to list unspecified people, though, as in this example:

• All the doctors—cardiologists, neurologists, etc.—were asked to come into the hospital on Christmas.

Less than two list items

It’s important to note that when you use “etc.” in a sentence, you must list at least two things. This is an example of “etc.” used incorrectly in a sentence:

• Susan brought all the cakes, etc. to the party.

In the above sentence, it’s not clear what other items Susan brought to the party. A correct sentence would be:

• Susan brought all the cakes, cookies, etc. to the party.

This sentence makes it more apparent that Susan brought desserts to the party.

”Etc.” usage in formal writing

Generally, “etc.” shouldn’t be used in formal writing. Reserve it for informal writing only. It’s OK to use “etc.” in a blog post, message to a friend, or social media post, but exclude it from essays, research papers, or resumes. Using “etc.” may come across as lazy or vague in formal settings. Instead of using “etc.,” try words or phrases like:

• And so on
• And the like
• Along with others
• Including
• Such as
• And so forth

Remember that you may need to restructure the sentence entirely by replacing “etc.” in formal writing with another word or phrase. For example, the sentence “She cuts long hair, short hair, thin hair, etc.” may need to become “She cuts all hair types, including long, short, and thin hair.”

Now that you know what “et cetera” means and how to correctly use “etc.,” you can write better, clearer sentences.