My Learning Corner: April 2012

Grammar Tip 2 : The incorrect use of 'Et al.'

Et al.

This is a Latin word meaning “et alibi” that is used like etc. (Grammar Tip 1 : Incorrect use of etc.)

to mean 'and others'.

Etc. or etc. is used for things.

Et al. or et al. is used for people.

For example :

She will be coming to the party with her husband, father, mother, son, et al.

This phrase is typically seen in the acknowledgement/reference section.

For example :

Fantasy World, by J.K. Rowling, David Eddings, et al.

etc. stands for et cetera.

Pronounced as : [et set-er-uh, se-truh]*

*From dictionary.com

NOT pronounced as 'ex' cetera (X). It should be et

It is a Latin word that means : and so on / and so forth / and others / and other things / and the rest

et means 'and' in Latin.

It is usually used when we have a list of things and we do not want to list them all out.

For example :

You can also use etc. in the middle. For example :

Consume means 'eat'

* Remember

'and' CANNOT be used with etc.

So you CANNOT say :

My daughter is starting school next week so I need to buy her school uniform, books, pens and etc. (THIS IS WRONG).

This is because etc. already means 'and so on'

so if you use it together, it becomes :

My daughter is starting school next week so I need to buy her school uniform, books, pens and and so on. (THIS IS WRONG).

You also CANNOT say :