1. What "etc." Means
"Etc." is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase "et cetera," which means "and the rest" or "and so on." It's used to indicate that a list is not exhaustive, but there are more things that could be included.
2. Punctuation
* Period after "etc.": A period always follows "etc." because it's an abbreviation.
* Comma before "etc.": A comma typically precedes "etc." when it's used within a sentence.
* No comma before "etc." (sometimes): A comma isn't always necessary when "etc." is the last item in a list at the end of a sentence. This is a matter of style, but omitting the comma is often preferred for a cleaner look.
Examples:
* Comma: I bought apples, bananas, oranges, etc., at the grocery store.
* No comma: We discussed the budget, marketing strategy, future plans etc.
3. Formal vs. Informal
* Formal writing: "Etc." is generally considered less formal than writing out "and so on" or "and the rest." It's more common in informal writing or casual speech.
* Academic writing: In academic writing, using "etc." can sometimes be seen as too informal. Instead, consider using more specific language or a phrase like "and other related factors."
4. Avoid Overuse
"Etc." should be used sparingly. If you have a long list, it's often better to provide a more complete list or to rephrase your sentence to be more specific.
In short:
* Use "etc." when you want to indicate that a list is not complete.
* Follow "etc." with a period.
* Use a comma before "etc." in most cases, but it's often optional at the end of a sentence.
* Be mindful of formality when using "etc."