Misused, Confused, Abused, Etc.
Most of us know
what et cetera means. Some dictionaries define it as “and so forth.”
Others say it means “and others” or “and others of the same kind.” A problem
comes with knowing how to spell it. Frequently we see ect, and we’re
supposed to think the writer is trying to spell the abbreviation for et
cetera. Hardly anyone writes et cetera these days, but some of us
seem to have a problem remembering the abbreviation is etc.
Sometimes it
appears in all capital letters, ECT. A few writers believe it’s okay to spell
it ect. They say, “What’s wrong with spelling it that way. It’s just
some old Latin abbreviation.”
Here’s the reason
we cannot afford to transpose the T and C. ECT is an acronym used
for another term, electroconvulsive
therapy, which is often called “shock treatment.” So, using ect for etc
can shock readers.
Scholars say the abbreviation etc. has been appearing in
written English for approximately six hundred years. Up until one hundred years
ago, it was sometimes written as &c. If we keep in mind that et
means and, we shouldn’t become confused about the correct way to spell
it. Not long ago, it was acceptable to write the expression as one word, etcetera,
but it is seldom seen that way these days.
Usually it refers to a list of similar items that are too
long to list. In no circumstances should a writer or speaker place and
before it because the et means “and,” even though Charles Dickens wrote “and
et cetera” in his novels. “And et cetera” is redundant.
Sometimes people write or say “such as” followed by a list with
“etc.” at the end. This kind of writing, which appears in advertisements and
infomercials, has a pompous air. Instead of impressing listeners and readers,
it can be a turnoff. Equally revolting is the use of “such as…and others.”
It’s okay to use etc. It is best to use it sparingly
though. Excessive use of it can leave the reader with a frustrating curiosity
about what was omitted.
Have you seen The King and I? King Mongkut of Siam,
played by Yul Brynner, frequently says, “Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.” He
wants everyone to think he possesses vast amounts of knowledge about many
subjects.
Using etc.
On the farm, we
kept cows, horses, pigs, sheep, goats, etc.
Etc. adds nothing. The
information is factual, not imaginary. The facts you conjure in your brain will
be different from the ones in mine.
3, 6, 9, 12, 15,
18, 21, etc.
In the above
example, the meaning, and so forth, is clear. We can infer what will come next.
“Congress has to
get to work on government funding, etc.”
A newscaster said
the above sentence in real time as I write this page. Etc. does not always
have to be used in a series. We know what Congress does, don’t we? Therefore,
the sentence makes sense.
In his descriptions,
the writer used frequent etceteras.
Rarely the word
appears in a plural form. To use the plural, it is essential not to abbreviate.
Also, the plural form appears as one word.
The politician
presented his plans for lowering the taxes, increasing the benefits, cleaning
up the corruption, etc.
Blah, blah, blah.
We’ve heard it all before, and we know how to finish his list. It’s easier to
say etc.
Playing with the
word
At the end of the
entry in our Compact Oxford English Dictionary, three words are listed without
definitions. When I Googled these words, I discovered two of them being used as
names of products and blog names. Those who used them spelled them in creative
ways. If you need a new word, feel free to use these:
Etcetarist—Could an
etcetarist be one who uses etc. often? Or perhaps an etcetarist studies the
term extensively.
Etcetarize—Maybe
it means to add frequent etceteras in writing.
Etcetaraly—Could
this word describe a manner of talking or writing? She speaks etcetaraly.
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