# and so forth

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/and-so-forth
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Indicates that a list continues in a similar manner.

## Examples

- We need to buy milk, bread, eggs, and so forth.
- The store sells office supplies like pens, paper, staplers, and so forth.
- The report details the necessary safety protocols, including equipment checks, staff training, emergency procedures, and so forth, to ensure full compliance.

## Origin

Derived from the Old English *and swā forþ*, the phrase has been an established component of the language since at least the Old English period. It persists as a functional marker of continuation, its structure remaining largely undisturbed for over a millennium.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.