Ect

[Anoisagusaris]

Why do so many MN posters use ect for etc?? It doesn’t even make sense sound wise. This is the only place I’ve ever seen it .

@Dancer47

You see the illiterate "ect" everywhere. They have no idea what "et cetera" means, what language it is or what is even means and pronounce it "Eksetera". People copying others' mistakes - money see, monkey do.

This is just really nasty. I guess some people just like to feel superior.

@butterpuffed

I think you're right that most people know the difference between etc and ect, or lose and loose, or your and you're, but can't be bothered to make sure it's correct. I find that very sad.

It's not a thing to worry about, or even discuss. I like it written either way.

@dropoutdoreen

why isnt it exc? Ex cet rah

It's Latin phrase - sometime we just take entire phrases from other languages.

Et Cetera (English: /ɛtˈsɛtərə/ or (proscribed) English: /ɛkˈsɛtərə/, Latin: [ɛt ˈkeːtɛra]), abbreviated to etc., etc, et cet., ect, &c. or &c[1][2] is a Latin expression that is used in English to mean "and other similar things", or "and so forth". Translated literally from Latin, et means 'and', while cētera means 'the rest'; thus the expression translates to 'and the rest (of such things)'.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Et_cetera

Never really explain at school to me - though I was school in time of very light grammar and no real spelling teaching ( though given my children's experiences not sure teaching spellings improved much).

Though wikipedia does use the ect in it's list so it may be it's so common that's it's just accepted now.

Though wikipedia does use the ect in it's list so it may be it's so common that's it's just accepted now.

Which is exactly how language is supposed to work. Grammar pedants are in the wrong.

The answer, OP, is that some people are shockingly badly educated, and also never read.

Though wikipedia does use the ect in it's list so it may be it's so common that's it's just accepted now.

It's 'its' when it's possessive which Wiki should use in its list because it's correct. I just wanted to see how many times I could use 'it's' or 'its'. Quite a few.

Which is exactly how language is supposed to work. Grammar pedants are in the wrong.

I agree though I personally hate Staycation for UK holidays rather than it's orginal period in which an individual or family stays home and participates in leisure activities within day trip distance of their home and does not require overnight accommodation meaning.

@Vulpius

The answer, OP, is that some people are shockingly badly educated, and also never read.

I think you mean poorly educated.

Hand in your Pendants' card.

I always think of electro conclusive therapy when I see ect used in the wrong context. Incorrect spelling is rife in my workplace and it frequently gets on my nerves.

@Vulpius

The answer, OP, is that some people are shockingly badly educated, and also never read.

English State education - and got to degree and post graduate degree with it. (It was during degree I found out about my dsylexia - so I do feel a little let down by the education system though I was first in my working class family to get there at all)

I do read widely - though I don't always pick up correct spelling or pronunciations from that.

I don't think just reading is considered these days a good way to pick up spellings - certainly systematically going through spelling programs for my chidlren has vastly improved my own spelling and grammer - even phonics never taught to me has helped.

Must be great not to have to unpick poor teaching in adulthood.

Ever heard of typos?

Why do you care so much?

Saying 'ec cetera' has got nothing to do with accent, it's just incorrect. I find 'ect' a bit annoying too OP, but it's so common now to pronounce it 'ec cetera' that I guess it's not surprising that lots of people put the e straight after the c!

@HirplesWithHaggis

We certainly know that et cetera would be pronounced et ketera though, don't we?

Because Latin is no longer taught in most schools, so they don't realise that it's short for the phrase "et cetera".

@Pixiedust1234

If I had a pound for every time this tablet has autocorrected real words to misspelt words I would be very rich indeed. Its not as though I misspelt or changed it originally, which would make sense. I really really hate autocorrect.

I agree.

My autocorrect has developed a dislike for the word and. It types abs instead. No idea why.

Because Latin is no longer taught in most schools, so they don't realise that it's short for the phrase "et cetera".

Of course they do, because when you say it out loud, you say the full phrase, you don't just say the letters 'etc', do you? It's just that lots of people pronounce it incorrectly, which leads to the spelling mistake.

[quote PAFMO]@HirplesWithHaggis

We certainly know that et cetera would be pronounced et ketera though, don't we?[/quote]
How would we know that? (I agree with the pronunciation, btw)

I don't think it matters. As long as you know the poster means etc. its fine. Its mumsnet, not The Guardian. I'm not saying that's what you are necessarily trying to do here, but too many posters try to patronise or shame other posters on typos or poor grammar. Everyone is entitled to a voice and fear of being criticised on their literacy skills shouldn't block them.

People copying others' mistakes - money see, monkey do.

Ahhh - good to see Muphry's Law in action!

@Fairislefandango

People copying others' mistakes - money see, monkey do.

Ahhh - good to see Muphry's Law in action!

I LOVE Muphrey's Law. Which has been demonstrated very extensively on this thread.

@AnnUumellmahaye

I imagine they are spelling it phonetically. Why do some mumsnetters lack imagination ?

Phonetically they would still be wrong

I think it’s more that people use it without knowing the actual origin word ‘etcetera’, and that unfamiliarity leads to a fairly common transposition of the letters c and t.

Really interesting OP. @Dancer47 was awful to me on a thread for saying ect. I didn't know it was etc and didn't know it was a proper word. What does et el stand for in referencing?

@DragonOverTheMoon it means ' and others '