How To Use Etc In Formal Writing

Full words no contractions should be used to simplify words in other words use it is rather than it s.

How to use etc in formal writing. You should never use and et cetera. If those synonyms make sense you can use etc. If it is at the end of the sentence. Is from the latin et cetera which means and other things. In american english etc.

To use etc correctly use it in instances where you would say and so forth for example if you are making a list of possible desserts and want to express that there could be more items than the ones you have listed write cakes cupcakes ice cream etc do not use etc more than once and do not use etc to refer to people. You can write etc ie and eg with or without full stops. If it is in parentheses in the middle of a sentence or at the end of a sentence no comma is needed. Remember et means and. Is appropriate is to substitute and so on or and so forth.

This rule is quite simple. And et cetera is redundant. If you use etc in the middle of a sentence and it is not enclosed in parentheses then you must use a comma after the abbreviation. It appears at the end of a list when there is no point in giving more examples. But make sure you pick one style for all abbreviations and stick to it.

If you re ever unsure just use for example or that is instead. A good way to test whether etc. A formal writing style shows a limited range of emotions and avoids emotive punctuation such as exclamation points ellipsis etc unless they are being cited from another source. And etc is best avoided too if you can. Ends in a period even midsentence.

Writers use it to say and so on or i could go on or you get the idea. How to use correct punctuation.