1. To list items in a series:
* "The grocery list included milk, bread, eggs, cheese, and so on."
* "She packed her suitcase with clothes, toiletries, books, and so on."
2. To indicate a continuation of a pattern:
* "He kept repeating the same phrase over and over, and so on."
* "The numbers increased by two, then four, then eight, and so on."
3. To avoid being overly specific:
* "The museum has exhibits on ancient civilizations, modern art, natural history, and so on."
* "They discussed the budget, the schedule, the logistics, and so on."
4. To add a final, general point:
* "He mentioned his hobbies, his family, his job, and so on."
* "They talked about politics, the weather, their favorite movies, and so on."
Key points to remember:
* "And so on" is often used at the end of a list, but it can also appear in the middle.
* It can be used to indicate a continuation of similar items without naming them all.
* It can be used to add a final, general point to a conversation.
Remember to use "and so on" sparingly and only when it adds clarity to your writing.