The etcetera abbreviation is etc., always with a period. It is short for the Latin phrase et cetera, which means "and the rest" or "and other things of the same kind." You add it to the end of a list to show there are more items you are not naming.
Most style guides spell the full phrase as two words, et cetera. The one word spelling etcetera is common too and is widely understood. Either way, the short form is the same three letters and a dot.
Quick facts
Abbreviation
etc.Full form
Et cetera (Latin)Means
And the rest, and so onPeriod
AlwaysHow to say it
et SET-er-uhCommon misspelling
ect.Not to be confused with
What does etc. stand for?
The full form of etc. is et cetera. The two Latin words break down like this:
| Part | Latin word | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| et | et | and |
| c. | cetera | the rest, the other things |
So etc. is not an acronym. It is a shortened phrase, with the first word kept whole and the second cut to one letter. That makes it an abbreviation, a difference explained in acronym vs abbreviation.
Say the short form as the full phrase, "et SET-er-uh." A common mistake in speech is "ek SET-er-uh," which swaps the t sound for a k.
Using the etcetera abbreviation in a sentence
Etc. works best at the end of a list when the reader can easily guess what else belongs in it.
- "Bring snacks, water, sunscreen, etc."
- "The kit includes screws, bolts, washers, etc., all sorted by size."
- "We cleaned the kitchen, bathrooms, closets, etc. before the move."
- "Office supplies (pens, tape, folders, etc.) are in the cabinet."
A school supply list: "Students need pencils, erasers, glue sticks, etc." The teacher is saying there are other basic supplies of the same kind, but these are the main ones. If the list is exact, such as a test day checklist, the teacher should name every item instead.
Commas and periods with etc.
- Comma before it. In a list of three or more, most American guides put a comma before etc.: "red, blue, green, etc."
- Comma after it when the sentence keeps going: "Fruits, vegetables, grains, etc., are on sale."
- One period at the end. If etc. comes last, its period does double duty and closes the sentence too. One dot is enough.
- Other marks stay. A question mark or closing parenthesis goes right after the period: "Did you pack shoes, socks, etc.?"
Common mistakes with etc.
- Writing ect. The letters go e, t, c, because the phrase starts with et. Ect. is a misspelling.
- Saying "and etc." Et already means and, so "and etc." says and twice.
- Pairing it with e.g. "Bring fruit, e.g., apples, pears, etc." doubles up. E.g. already signals that only a sample of items follows.
- Using it for people. Formal writing often uses et al. (and others) for a list of people, such as authors.
- Leaving out the period. In American English, etc. keeps its period. Some British writing drops periods from abbreviations, but American guides do not.
- Overusing it. In formal essays, "and so on" or a complete list may read better.
Etc. vs i.e. vs e.g.
| Short form | Full Latin | Plain meaning | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| etc. | et cetera | and the rest | A list goes on with similar items |
| e.g. | exempli gratia | for example | You give a few examples |
| i.e. | id est | that is | You restate or narrow something down |
A quick memory trick: e.g. means "example given," i.e. means "in essence," and etc. means "and the rest." Other words people shorten in daily writing are collected on the common abbreviations page.
Questions people ask
What does etc stand for?
Etc. stands for et cetera, a Latin phrase meaning and the rest or and other similar things. It signals that a list has more items than the ones named.
What is the abbreviation for etcetera?
The abbreviation is etc., written with a period. It comes from the Latin et cetera.
Is it etcetera or et cetera?
Both spellings are used. Most style guides prefer et cetera as two words, but etcetera as one word is widely accepted.
Do you put a comma before etc.?
In most American writing, yes. When etc. ends a list of items, a comma usually goes before it, and another comma follows it if the sentence continues.
How do you pronounce etc.?
Say the full phrase, et SET-er-uh. Avoid ek SET-er-uh, which is a common slip.