How To Use Etc Comma
Letters packages etc should go here.
How to use etc comma. It is recommended even by those who discourage the use of the oxford comma the comma before the last item in a list. Et cetera literally and others of the same kind is traditionally both preceded and followed by a comma when it is the final item in a series. To use etc correctly use it in instances where you would say and so forth for example if you are making a list of possible desserts and want to express that there could be more items than the ones you have listed write cakes cupcakes ice cream etc do not use etc more than once and do not use etc to refer to people. You should never use and et cetera. If those synonyms make sense you can use etc.
The conjunctive adverb however shows a connection between the two independent clauses. And et cetera is redundant. In american english etc. We won t get into the serial comma issue here when it s in the middle of the sentence it doesn t need to be followed by a comma. Ends in a period even midsentence.
If it is at the end of the sentence. Is appropriate is to substitute and so on or and so forth. When it comes at the end of a list put a comma before it if you use the serial comma and don t if you don t use the serial comma. Remember et means and. A good way to test whether etc.
Don t use a comma after etc. Such english equivalents as and so forth and the like are usually treated the same way. As you would the phrase and the rest. Tennis soccer baseball etc are outdoor games however if this word appears at the end of a sentence then the period which is part of etc serves as the final punctuation mark. Nevertheless the style that seems to be recommended the most is to always include a comma before etc.
There s no definitive answer because different style guides recommend different usage. Do not use a comma to connect two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction and but or nor etc. Be followed by a comma. The 1979 edition of strunk and white s the elements of style insists that etc.