Why do people say excetera?
Asked by: Porter Keebler | Last update: April 23, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (3 votes)
People say "etcetera" (or use the abbreviation "etc.") because it's a Latin phrase meaning "and the rest" or "and so on," used to shorten lists by implying similar items continue, saving time and avoiding tedious enumeration. It's a common loanword from Latin that became part of English, allowing speakers to add "and others" to lists without saying the full phrase, especially when the list is long or the additional items are obvious.
Why do some people write ECT instead of ETC?
With so many people pronouncing it "excetera" these days, along with other words such as "exspecially," the abbreviation has started to morph toward E-C-T.
Why do people say excetera?
The phrase et cetera is often used to denote the logical continuation of some sort of series of descriptions. For example, in the following expression: We will need a lot of bread: wheat, granary, wholemeal, etc.
Is "etcetera, etcetera, etcetera" ever appropriate?
Also it is some times appropriate to repeat 'etcetera'. You say etcetera to indicate that there are more similar things. It is some times repeated to indicate that the list of additional similar things is very long. Yul Brenner in The King and I: Et cetera.
How do Brits pronounce British?
Brits typically pronounce "British" with a clearer, crisper 'T' sound, often dropping the 'T' between vowels to sound more like "Bri-ish," especially in casual speech (like "Bri'ish"), or using a glottal stop (like a quick catch in the throat) for the 'T', avoiding the American 'D' sound (flapped 'T'), focusing on the first syllable's stress (BRIT-ish). Different accents have variations, but the key is a distinct 'T' rather than a 'D' sound and a focus on the first syllable.
10 English words that you pronounce INCORRECTLY | British English Pronunciation + (Free PDF & Quiz!)
How do Americans pronounce etc.?
Et cetera is pronounced et-SET-uh-ruh. You might have heard it pronounced ek SET ra, but this is incorrect. There is no “k” in et cetera, which is why “ek set ra” is not correct. This is a common mistake that Americans make when pronouncing et cetera.
What does '&c" mean?
The phrase et cetera ("and the rest"), usually written as etc. can be abbreviated &c. representing the combination et + c(etera).
What are common misuses of etc.?
- Don't overuse it. Reserve etc. ...
- Use etc. only for things. ...
- Don't use etc. if you're also using for example or such as. ...
- Don't write and etc. This is redundant because etc. ...
- If you end a sentence with etc. ...
- Finally, generally refrain from writing etc.
Who invented etc.?
So the answer on your first question: no, the Romans did not invent the expression 'et cetera', but the Greeks did.
Is it grammatically correct to say "is twice"?
Yes, You Can Use 'Is' Twice in a Row in a Sentence | Merriam-Webster.
What does "etc." stand for?
“Etc.” is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase “et cetera.” In Latin, “et” means “and.” The word “cetera” means “the rest.” It's pronounced “et SET uh ruh.” The abbreviation “etc.” is used more frequently in writing than the whole phrase.
What does Redux mean in Latin?
Redux is a postpositive adjective meaning 'brought back, restored' (from Latin reducere, 'to bring back') used in literature, film and video game titles.
What does "ect" mean?
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedure done under general anesthesia. During this procedure, small electric currents pass through the brain, intentionally causing a brief seizure.
Why do people put three periods after a sentence?
An ellipsis ( ... ) consists of three evenly spaced periods and is used to indicate the omission of words or suggest an incomplete thought. In general, an ellipsis should be treated as a three-letter word, with a space, three periods and a space. (Western Michigan University is ...
What's a better way to say etc.?
You can also say "and things like that."
Is ECT correct?
“Etc.” is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase “et cetera,” which means “and other things.” It is used frequently to denote that a list extends beyond what is mentioned. Conversely, “ect.” is a very common misspelling of the abbreviation. It has no recognized meaning in English and should not be used in writing.
How to correctly use etc?
"Etc." (from the Latin et cetera) means "and the rest" or "and so forth," used at the end of a list to show it's incomplete, like "apples, oranges, bananas, etc.". Use it after at least two items, often in informal writing, and remember it's an abbreviation, so it always gets a period, even when followed by other punctuation (e.g., "..., etc., or...").
What is the 3 with a line over it?
The 3s go on for infinity. It just doesn't make sense to spend the rest of your life writing 3s, so in math we would say 1 / 3 = 0.3 with a line over the three to show that the three repeats forever. This is called bar notation.
What does c/o mean in text?
What does it mean? Often abbreviated as c/o, “care of” means through someone or by way of someone.
Why was the ampersand removed from the alphabet?
By the end of the 19th century, the ampersand was removed from the alphabet due to its perceived lack of necessity.It was demoted from letter status to that of a punctuation mark or special character, leaving the English alphabet with its current 26 letters.
Do Germans say etc.?
Translation of et cetera – English–German dictionary
und so weiter (usw.)
Do Americans pronounce their ts?
Instead, many ts in American English are subject to a tactic between pronouncing and glottalizing: flapping. Flapping, in linguistics, refers to replacing a t sound with a quick, d-like sound. So, for Americans, butter ends up sounding more like “budder,“ and water ends up sounding more like “wadder.