Commas Around 'Etc.' in a Series

Rulebase Summary

Use commas around 'etc.' when it appears within a sentence at the end of a series. A comma precedes and follows it (unless it ends the sentence, in which case the period in 'etc.' serves as the sentence-ending period). Court reporters need not spell out 'et cetera' unless it is the only word on the line.

Morson's Rule 52 · p.34 BGGP Abbreviation.38 · p.252 Morson's Rule 257 · p.147 BGGP Et Cetera.1 · p.407 BGGP Et Cetera.2 · p.407 BGGP Et Cetera.3 · p.408 BGGP Et Cetera.4 · p.408 BGGP Et Cetera.5 · p.408 BGGP Et Cetera.6 · p.408

Examples

✗

A. We collected the usual documents -- tax returns, bank statements, pay stubs etc. and submitted them to the lender.

✓

A. We collected the usual documents -- tax returns, bank statements, pay stubs, etc., and submitted them to the lender.

Comma before and after 'etc.' within a sentence.

✗

A. He brought files folders etc. to the meeting.

✓

A. He brought files, folders, etc., to the meeting.

Comma before and after etc. when mid-sentence.

Style Guide References (9)

Morson's

Rule 52 Page 34

BGGP

Abbreviation.38 Page 252

Morson's

Rule 257 Page 147

BGGP

Et Cetera.1 Page 407

BGGP

Et Cetera.2 Page 407

BGGP

Et Cetera.3 Page 408

BGGP

Et Cetera.4 Page 408

BGGP

Et Cetera.5 Page 408

BGGP

Et Cetera.6 Page 408