The word "etcetera"

[DennisMartz]

I'm working on an article and have a question about how "etcetera" should be used.

Here is the paragraph I'm not sure about:

Each step up the ladder removes more and more restrictions such as the number of passengers you can take, night flight, type of aircraft you can fly, distance from the airport, etc, but at the same time places more responsibility and training requirements on you and the more stringent the medical requirements become.

The question I have is halfway thru the second line, where I have "... from the airport, etc, but at the same time..."

should I abbreviate etcetera as etc - - - should there be a period after etc (for the abbreviation) or should it be etc., (with a period followed by a comma?

Also, if anyone is interested in taking a quick look at the article (it will be my first) please let me know.

Thanks,

Dennis

[Debbi]

It should be "etc." (without the quotes) and in this case followed by a comma. But it shouldn't appear in your list at all because using "etc." in a list starting with the words "such as" is incorrect.

Here's a good discussion of the term "etc."
http://www.columbiaseminary.edu/coffeetalk/035.html

I try to avoid the use of etc. altogether. I might use words such as "and the like" or put the list in between dahses, like:

Each step up the ladder removes more and more restrictions-- number of passengers you can take, night flight, type of aircraft you can fly, distance from the airport-- but at the same time places more responsibility and training requirements on you and the more stringent the medical requirements become.

Hope this helps!

[stephanie]

"and so on" is also an option.

[Ed]

Please avoid the use of "etc." The reader shouldn't have to fill in the blank, which is what the "etc." creates. The information should be provided for the reader or the "etc." should be left out.

Thanks,
Ed