Word for Wednesday: Et cetera

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Our Word for Wednesday theme for September is Latin expressions used in English.

Our first Latin expression of the month is et cetera.

Et cetera, often abbreviated to etc., is commonly used at the end of a list as a way of saying ‘and other similar things’ or ‘and so on’.

Here is et cetera used in some example sentences:

  • The Spellzone course uses a range of spelling techniques: word lists, spelling tests, word games, et cetera.
  • Please pack for a range of weathers: rain, snow, wind, et cetera.
  • We will be serving light snacks (sandwiches, crisps, fruit, et cetera) at the party.

If you are abbreviating et cetera to etc., you will need a full stop unless the abbreviation falls at the end of the sentence (where there is already a full stop). Here are the same example sentences but with et cetera abbreviated to etc.:

  • The Spellzone course uses a range of spelling techniques: word lists, spelling tests, word games, etc.
  • Please pack for a range of weathers – rain, snow, wind, etc.
  • We will be serving light snacks (sandwiches, crisps, fruit, etc.) at the party.

Et cetera has been used in English since the early-fifteenth century. The Latin term literally translates to ‘and the others’.

 

 


07 Sep 2022
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