Would you use "etc." in a formal, literary context? Or would you prefer "and so on", "and so forth" or something similar?

Question

Would you use "etc." in a formal, literary context? Or would you prefer "and so on", "and so forth" or something similar?

Share with your friends

Talk Doctor Online in Bissoy App

Dr. Md Rushad Rahman · Answer 1 · Jul 02, 2015 08:12:42

In written usage generally, "etc." is perfectly fine and it is also fine to write "and so on" and "and so forth". You may like to mix them up if a paragraph would be saying "etc." too many times. In written dialogue, if a character were to say "etc.", spell it as "et cetera", for the full word is always spoken; people don't actually say "etc.".

Would you use "etc." in a formal, literary context? Or would you prefer "and so on", "and so forth" or something similar?

1 Answers