##  [et cetera, etcetera, etc.](/writing-tips-plus/et-cetera-etcetera-etc)

##  Avertissement

Ce contenu est offert en anglais seulement.

(A similar topic is discussed in French in the article [etc./et cetera](../cles-de-la-redaction/etc-et-cetera))

The Latin term *et cetera* (“and the rest”) is usually written as two words in Canadian English. However, the one-word spelling *etcetera* is also correct. The abbreviation for this term is *etc.* (Note that the *c* comes last; the misspelling *ect.* is a common error.)

Because it has become part of the English language, this term is not placed in italics, whether it is written in full or abbreviated.

## Use

*Et cetera* and its more common abbreviation, *Etc.*, are used to show that a list of at least two items is incomplete. The list may include either things or people:

- Karen tries not to eat chips, chocolate, et cetera, even though she loves junk food.
- Bart had read many bestselling Canadian authors: Michael Ondaatje, Margaret Laurence, Wayson Choy, etc.

*Etc.*can also be used at the end of a bulleted list:

- Michael Ondaatje
- Margaret Laurence
- Wayson Choy
- etc.

Since the expressions *for example* and *such as* already indicate that a list is incomplete, *et cetera* and *Etc.*should **not** be used at the end of a list introduced by either of these expressions or by the abbreviation *e.g.*

- Incorrect: Al often picks locally grown fruit, such as apples or strawberries, etc.
- Correct: Al often picks locally grown fruit, such as apples or strawberries.
- Correct: Al often picks locally grown fruit: apples, strawberries, etc.

**Note:** Some guides suggest avoiding the use of etc. in formal writing. As an alternative, you can use *such as* to introduce a list, or follow the list with a phrase such as “and so on”:

- Maneesha loves any sports activities involving water, such as sailing, swimming and surfing.
- Maneesha loves any sports activities involving water: sailing, swimming, surfing and so on.

## Comma with *et cetera*

A comma is used before *et cetera* and its abbreviation, *etc.*:

- I dislike doing yard work: mowing the grass, trimming the hedge, et cetera.

When this term appears in the middle of a sentence, it takes a comma after it as well as before it:

- Yard work can fill up the summer; mowing the grass, trimming the hedge, etc., takes a lot of time.

## Period after *etc.*

The abbreviation *Etc.* always ends with a period, regardless of any additional punctuation that may follow:

- Karen tries not to eat chips, chocolate, etc., even though she loves junk food.
- Avoid using feminine or masculine pronouns to personify animals, events, ships, etc.: \[*followed by a list of examples*\]
- Travellers should not carry sharp objects in their carry-on luggage (scissors, pocket knives, nail clippers, etc.).

If *etc*. ends a sentence that takes a period, only one period is used:

- At the staff picnic, the employees ate, played football, chatted, etc.

##  Avis de droit d’auteur pour l’outil Writing Tips Plus

© Sa Majesté le Roi du chef du Canada, représenté par le ou la ministre des Services publics et de l’Approvisionnement
Un outil créé et mis en ligne par le Bureau de la traduction, Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada

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- [Abbreviations, acronyms and symbols](/fr/navigateur-navigator?search_api_fulltext=-&field_writing_tools=All&sort_by=views&f%5B1%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A447#navigateur-navigator-resultats-results)
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- [Canadian spelling](/fr/navigateur-navigator?search_api_fulltext=-&field_writing_tools=All&sort_by=views&f%5B0%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A496&f%5B1%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A497#navigateur-navigator-resultats-results)

## Liens connexes

- [Writing Tips Plus](/fr/writing-tips-plus/index-fra) (page d’accueil)
- [Outils d’aide à la rédaction](/fr/outils-tools/index-fra)
- [Navigateur linguistique](/fr/navigateur-navigator) (permet de trouver rapidement des conseils linguistiques)
- [TERMIUM Plus®](http://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-fra.html?lang=fra)