Notes on 'etc.'
'Etc.' is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase et cetera, meaning 'and the rest.' Properly, it is used only for lists of things. Where people are concerned, 'et al.,' short for Latin et alia ('and others'), is the term of choice.
Also note that 'etc.' is not spelled 'e-c-t,' and not properly pronounced 'ek-SETera.' It's 'et-SETera.'
Also note that 'etc.' is not spelled 'e-c-t,' and not properly pronounced 'ek-SETera.' It's 'et-SETera.'
posted by Thomas McAllister at 4:11 PM
1 Comments:
EK-cetera is one of those things that makes me cringe, specifically because I hear it used constantly by very "learned" individuals.
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