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Re: including "and so on" in a "such as" list ...

Subject: Re: including "and so on" in a "such as" list ...
From: "Peter Neilson" <neilson -at- windstream -dot- net>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Fri, 04 Dec 2015 13:14:53 -0500

As technical writers we should provide a complete list where one is needed, or a pointer to the list. Where the list istoo large, or is open-ended or impossible to specify fully, we should say, "for example" or "such as." "Etc." or "and so forth" are colloquialisms, from the strictly technical point of view. It's quite likely that we are to provide writing that is technically accurate.

One could do worse, though. I see "ect" all the time where "etc." was intended. Those who write it that way also pronounce it ek-settera. One friend who fancies himself to be a writer always says, "And ek-settera and ek-settera and ek-settera."

On Fri, 04 Dec 2015 11:14:14 -0500, Lesli Ritchie <Lesli -dot- Ritchie -at- mediware -dot- com> wrote:

Hi Monique,

I agree with you that it's not necessary to add "and so on." It's redundant and (at least in my humble opinion) sounds a little hokey.

-Lesli

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+lesli -dot- ritchie=mediware -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lesli -dot- ritchie=mediware -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Monique Semp
Sent: Friday, December 04, 2015 11:12 AM
To: TechWR-L
Subject: including "and so on" in a "such as" list ...

Hello, WR-L-ers,

I know (?) that itâs incorrect to end a list preceded by âsuch asâ with âand so on.â After all, the âsuch asâ list, by definition, doesnât include the complete list of possibilities. But Iâve had more than one reviewer want to include âetc.â so that itâs explicitly stated and doubly-clear that not everything is included in the list.

By way of example: âBe careful when approaching wild animals, such as wildebeests, unicorns, elephants, and so onâ, instead of the correct form, âBe careful when approaching wild animals, such as wildebeests, unicorns, and elephants.â

How awful is it to include the âand so onâ to make sure that the sentence is clear for readers who arenât likely to notice/know the rule about âsuch asâ vs. âthat isâ (e.g., vs. i.e.)?

-Monique
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Follow-Ups:

References:
including "and so on" in a "such as" list ...: From: Monique Semp
RE: including "and so on" in a "such as" list ...: From: Lesli Ritchie

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