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A Blinkin' Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

and so on, etc. lists

0 If I have a sentences as such:02br
00 They play all kinds of games such as soccer, golf, tennis and so on.02br
00 I can't go out and play or swim etc.02br
00 He eats bread, cereal, rice etc.02br
02br
00 Should there be a comma between "tennis" and "and so on"?02br
00 How about if using etc.? When can the comma be ommitted?02br
00 When must the comma be there?02br
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Top answer

0Hi,02br 01font 02br 02br 01font 00Generally, commas are used to separate items in a list. The last item is preceded by 'and', and a comma is very often omitted before the 'and'. 02br 02br 00If I have a sentences as such:02br 00They play all kinds of games such as soccer, golf, tennis and so on.

— Clive

  • 0Hi,02br 01font 02br 02br 01font 00Generally, commas are used to separate items in a list.
  • The last item is preceded by 'and', and a comma is very often omitted before the 'and'.
  • 02br 02br 00If I have a sentences as such:02br 00They play all kinds of games such as soccer, golf, tennis and so on.
  • 00 This is a common way of speaking, but the use of 'and' and 'or' together causes a lack of precise meaning.
  • 02br 00He eats bread, cereal, rice etc.
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3 Answers
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0Hi,02br
01font02br
02br
01font00Generally, commas are used to separate items in a list. The last item is preceded by 'and', and a comma is very often omitted before the 'and'. However, if the individual items are long, then a comma often helps to clarify the meaning.02br
02br
00If I have a senten
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0 is the comma also ommitted in formal writing and literature?0-
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0Hi,02br
02br
01font00is the comma also ommitted in formal writing and literature?02font02br
02br
00For 'and so on', I'd say my comments apply to formal English, too.02br
02br
00For formal writing and literature, 01font00etc.02font00 should not really be u
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