Expressions Students Can Use Instead of "Etc."
We don’t always need to list every example of something we’re talking about. In most cases, naming two or three is enough; after that, we can simply say “et cetera” to indicate that there are more examples. Many learners may not realize, however, that there are several more ways to express this.
Especially because et cetera can sometimes sound formal, it's good for students to know some casual alternatives when speaking with friends or in other informal situations. We hope this article can be a guide for you when introducing these useful phrases.
Et cetera
Let's start by taking a closer look at et cetera itself. It comes from Latin and means “and the others” or “and the rest.” It can also be spelled without the space (“etcetera”), though it is most common in its shortened form: “etc.” Students should know that all versions are pronounced the same way.
They should also know that et cetera is used for things, not for people. The abbreviation “et al.” (which also means "and others" in Latin) is used for individuals, but is mostly seen in text when referring to authors of books and academic papers. Therefore, most students will not have many opportunities to use it.
In spoken English, we can refer to a longer list of people’s names by simply saying "and more."
Neutral/Formal expressions
Let's move on to the alternatives for et cetera. First, we'll introduce similar expressions that are appropriate for formal situations.
~ and so on
“And so on” suggests continuation, as if your examples are only the start of a longer list.
At the meeting, we’ll need to discuss the budget, the schedule, staffing and so on.
This expression is sometimes made a little longer by adding “and so forth.” However, it does not change the meaning or the nuance.
Language lessons can help you improve things like pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary and so on and so forth.
~ and the like
There is no major difference between this expression and the previous one.
The farmer's market has stands selling fruit, baked goods and the like.
~ and whatnot
“Whatnot” is an unusual word that can substitute for et cetera, especially if the other items being referred to are difficult to describe clearly.
The scientist’s laboratory was filled with strange devices, crazy inventions and whatnot.
~ and what have you
“Have you” instead of “you have” sounds strange, even to native English speakers, but this is still a very common way of referencing more examples from a short list.
The festival will include different kinds of entertainment, such as musical performances, dancing, art exhibitions and what have you.
~ and such
Here is one more simple alternative for et cetera.
The hotel breakfast only includes simple things like cereal, bagels and such.
Informal expressions
The following expressions are most suitable for casual situations, so students should know to only use them when it is appropriate to do so.
~ and stuff like that
This is a casual and very common expression. You can also say "and things like that."
She has a large collection of vintage items like rare coins, classic vinyl records and stuff like that.
Blah, blah, blah
This is a very informal way to refer to information that is not considered to be important, interesting or original.
The meeting was about sales numbers, budgets, blah, blah, blah. The usual stuff.
This expression is often used to refer to something someone has said. For some extra fun, introduce students to the "talking hand" gesture that often accompanies this et cetera alternative.
The company tweeted an apology for their controversial ad and promised to do better in the future, blah, blah, blah.
A single “blah” can also be a noun or an adjective with the same nuance.
The documentary was filled with a lot of blah about things I didn't care about.
This soup tastes really blah; it needs some salt.
Yadda yadda (yadda)
The last expression on this list is very similar to blah, blah, blah except that it isn’t quite as common. Also, it has no special hand gesture — blah is unique for that!
That event was the same old thing it always is: boring speeches, snobby guests, yadda yadda yadda. I’ve seen it a million times before.
It can also be spelled with only a single "D," as in "yada yada."
This expression is very familiar to many fans of the American television show Seinfeld. In fact, one episode of the series is called "The Yada Yada"!
Wrap-up
The best kinds of students are those who are hungry for a greater variety of ways to express themselves. Expressions like the ones presented here will allow them to do that while also sounding closer to the English they will hear on the street, in popular media and in conversations with friends.
Just be sure to remind them to choose the appropriate expression for their situation.
