What does etc. mean?
Etc. is short for et cetera, a Latin phrase meaning and the rest or and so on. It is used at the end of a list to show that more similar items could be included.
For example, you might write: Bring snacks, drinks, napkins, etc. It tells the reader that the list could continue with similar items. Because it already means and the rest, writing and etc. is redundant and considered incorrect.
In American English, etc. is usually written with a period because it is an abbreviation. A comma usually comes before it in a list. If etc. comes at the end of a sentence, only one period is used. Style guides often recommend using etc. sparingly in formal writing and avoiding it after phrases like such as or for example, which already suggest the list is incomplete.
Pronunciation
Et cetera is pronounced et-SET-er-uh. A common mistake is saying ek-SET-er-uh. The ampersand symbol, &, comes from et, the Latin word for and, and the abbreviation &c. was once used for etc.
Did You Know?
Similar Latin abbreviations used in English include e.g., i.e., vs. and a.m. and p.m.