ENGLISH
REFERENCE

and so on

fixed phr..
B1 Intermediate Oxford

fixed phr.. you use this at the end of a list to show that there are more similar things you could mention.

fixed phr.. a phrase used at the end of a list to indicate that further items of the same category exist but are being omitted for brevity.


SIMPLE

We bought apples, oranges, pears, and so on.

CONTEXTUAL

The shop sells all kinds of stationery like pens, pencils, paper, and so on.

COMPLEX

The report discusses various environmental challenges including deforestation, rising sea levels, and so on, without offering specific solutions for each.

Usage

usually appears at the end of a list of at least two or three items.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'etc.' which is more common in writing; 'and so on' is preferred in spoken English and formal presentations.

Pitfall

We bought bread, milk, and so on and so forth.We bought bread, milk, and so on.while 'and so forth' exists, adding it to 'and so on' is often redundant and can sound overly repetitive in simple lists.

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