should there be a comma after "etc.

Question

Part of this process may include numbering, batching, sorting etc. in order to help us identify............................

should there be a comma after "etc. " as in below mentioned?

Part of this process may include numbering, batching, sorting etc., in order to help us identify............................

RandomGuy · Accepted Answer

No, but I would use a comma before etc.

Chris2010 · Answer

Just to clarify …. it should be as below is it?

Part of this process may include numbering, batching, sorting etc, in order to help us identify............................

RandomGuy · Answer

Part of this process may include numbering, batching, sorting, etc in order to help us identify …

Chris2010 · Answer

Thanks a lot!

Enoon · Answer

Aspara GusPart of this process may include numbering, batching, sorting, etc in order to help us identify …

Where are you getting that? Since the time of the pharaohs, "etc." has taken a comma both before and after. (I think you left the period off.)

RandomGuy · Answer

enoonWhere are you getting that? Since the time of the pharaohs, "etc." has taken a comma both before and after.

Only if what follows in the same sentence is an independent clause, as far as I’m concerned. You wouldn’t use a comma after and so on (or would you?) or any other final item of a list, so why is et cetera a special exception?

Parts of this process may include numbering, batching, sorting, and so on in order to help us identify …
Parts of this process may include numbering, batching, and sorting in order to help us identify …

I suspect the argument is that et cetera isn’t considered an item of the list but instead a parenthetical element, requiring both commas.

enoon(I think you left the period off.)

Whoops!

Enoon · Answer

Aspara GusYou wouldn’t use a comma after and so on (or would you?) or any other final item of a list, so why is et cetera a special exception?

Yes. I would, and so would anybody. Please check around. It's not an exception, but the rule. I could cite stylebooks, but you don't like them, so look at some edited material, maybe journals.

Parts of this process may include numbering, batching, sorting, and so on, in order to help us identify …

Aspara GusI suspect the argument is that et cetera isn’t considered an item of the list but instead a parenthetical element, requiring both commas.

Yes, that's the idea.

RandomGuy · Answer

enoonI could cite stylebooks, but you don't like them, …

No! Go right ahead! I’m all ears (or eyes).

enoonYes, that's the idea.

I’ve always treated [and] so on as a part of the list it concludes. But I’ll take your word for it. Thanks!

Enoon · Answer

http://www.bartleby.com/141/strunk.html : "The abbreviations /141/strunk3.html#15. and jr. are always preceded by a comma, and except at the end of a sentence, followed by one."

Chicago, under "'Etc.' and 'and so forth'": "The abbreviation etc. is traditionally both preceded and followed by a comma when it is the the final term in a series." They do go on to say "An alternative and quite acceptable usage is to omit the second comma (after etc.) punctuating such expressions the same way as the final element in any series."

Hmmm. So, you are considered acceptable. I still don't like it. I can see how "etc." can be construed as a final element, but "and so forth" seems plainly parenthetical to me, so I'm sticking with my lovely comma in both cases for consistency's sake.

should there be a comma after "etc.

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