Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

For the love of God, everybody it's etc for et cetera. Not ECT

186 replies

Moulez · 01/02/2026 21:40

I know I'm not being unreasonable, but just please agree so that we can educate people,
Without rules, where are we?

OP posts:
loislovesstewie · 01/02/2026 21:45

I agree, it makes me feel like this 😡. Don't use the term unless you know what it means!

BuddhaAtSea · 01/02/2026 21:45

I did 8 years of Latin, and it’s always been et caetera not et cetera. 🤷🏻‍♀️🤯

Moulez · 01/02/2026 21:46

I think everyone should have carte blanche to correct people on Mumsnet until we've wiped it out

OP posts:
Madlentileater · 01/02/2026 21:47

its because people pronounce it
eck-setera

its not like 'et' is an unusual sound in english!

BuddhaAtSea · 01/02/2026 21:51

Moulez · 01/02/2026 21:46

I think everyone should have carte blanche to correct people on Mumsnet until we've wiped it out

It stems from school though. My DD went through an English schooling system and still thinks it’s not that important how she spells. But she makes an effort with me, because it genuinely grates me.

Doingtheboxerbeat · 01/02/2026 21:54

Moulez · 01/02/2026 21:40

I know I'm not being unreasonable, but just please agree so that we can educate people,
Without rules, where are we?

My memory is peri menopausal terrible , I spent ages trying to remember how to spell cardboard this afternoon 😖 and my phone's autocorrect is an absolute wanker. I know for a fact that my spelling has become so much worse, rather than it has always been bad.

Social media and American spelling is not going to improve this.

TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum · 01/02/2026 21:54

Can you be more pacific OP?

Doingtheboxerbeat · 01/02/2026 21:56

TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum · 01/02/2026 21:54

Can you be more pacific OP?

And how does this effect you 🤭?

InterestedDad37 · 01/02/2026 21:57

Moulez · 01/02/2026 21:46

I think everyone should have carte blanche to correct people on Mumsnet until we've wiped it out

"everyone should have carte blanche to"

Do you mean 'kart blontch'? 🙂

grumpygrape · 01/02/2026 21:58

Now you've bought this to the table 😉

LancashireButterPie · 01/02/2026 21:59

Sounds like you need a rest bite 😆

JaneIves · 01/02/2026 22:09

I think you need a lie down on a chez lounge.

Moulez · 02/02/2026 00:20

LancashireButterPie · 01/02/2026 21:59

Sounds like you need a rest bite 😆

lol

OP posts:
Moulez · 02/02/2026 00:21

You lot need to put your sandles in the Chester drawers and go to bed.

OP posts:
StopYuckingMyYum · 02/02/2026 00:25

Moulez · 01/02/2026 21:46

I think everyone should have carte blanche to correct people on Mumsnet until we've wiped it out

Thankfully MNHQ have been cracking down on the grammar police who humiliate those who aren't fortunate enough to be good at SPAG.

It really does put women off of posting even when they may need advice on domestic violence, care of their children, divorce, schooling or any other important subject you can think of.

If the grammar/typing/spelling of complete strangers annoys you this much, YOU are the one who needs to change or just leave Mumsnet.

StopYuckingMyYum · 02/02/2026 00:27

Oh I see lots of others have joined in with the humiliation of those who struggle with this sort of thing.

Well done.

I guess women in need will need to find a different forum when they're desperate for help.

👏👏👏

MarthaBeach · 02/02/2026 00:28

I'm with you on et cetera / ecksetera OP, my DD insists that everyone says ecksetera, so I've been noticing it, and - good grief, it's true. I really really hate it! The only people who say it correctly are serious journalists.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 02/02/2026 00:29

StopYuckingMyYum · 02/02/2026 00:27

Oh I see lots of others have joined in with the humiliation of those who struggle with this sort of thing.

Well done.

I guess women in need will need to find a different forum when they're desperate for help.

👏👏👏

Well if nobody can understand them well enough to offer help 🤷‍♀️

MarthaBeach · 02/02/2026 00:30

StopYuckingMyYum · 02/02/2026 00:27

Oh I see lots of others have joined in with the humiliation of those who struggle with this sort of thing.

Well done.

I guess women in need will need to find a different forum when they're desperate for help.

👏👏👏

I'm talking about what I hear and see in real life. I would never correct someone on MN.

MissedItByThisMuch · 02/02/2026 00:30

Yes, I’ve been loosing my mind over this.

Funnywonder · 02/02/2026 00:32

StopYuckingMyYum · 02/02/2026 00:25

Thankfully MNHQ have been cracking down on the grammar police who humiliate those who aren't fortunate enough to be good at SPAG.

It really does put women off of posting even when they may need advice on domestic violence, care of their children, divorce, schooling or any other important subject you can think of.

If the grammar/typing/spelling of complete strangers annoys you this much, YOU are the one who needs to change or just leave Mumsnet.

Oof! I took that comment as lighthearted but maybe it isn’t. I hate it when people correct others’ SPAG but I reckon having a thread to moan about it in isolation is fine. But Pedants’ Corner is the probably best place for it.

Ladyluckinred · 02/02/2026 00:33

Moulez · 01/02/2026 21:40

I know I'm not being unreasonable, but just please agree so that we can educate people,
Without rules, where are we?

OP, it should be a full stop after ‘people’ if you start the next sentence with a capital letter.

Vaguelyclassical · 02/02/2026 00:36

BuddhaAtSea · 01/02/2026 21:51

It stems from school though. My DD went through an English schooling system and still thinks it’s not that important how she spells. But she makes an effort with me, because it genuinely grates me.

I went through the English schooling system and was taught it was very important indeed how I spelled. When did things change?

StopYuckingMyYum · 02/02/2026 00:38

saltinesandcoffeecups · 02/02/2026 00:29

Well if nobody can understand them well enough to offer help 🤷‍♀️

Rubbish

You'd have to be thick as a plank to not understand what someone who typed ect instead of etc actually meant.

And as for anyone who wouldn't pick the person up at the time, do you not think those who are less fortunate when it comes to education/understanding SPAG might be reading this constantly reoccurring thread, with people taking the piss?

Just be grateful that in a day and age where internet forums and the typed word is so popular, you can get by without others laughing and being 'annoyed' at you and people like you being less able.

Ladyluckinred · 02/02/2026 00:43

“For the love of God, everybody it's etc for et cetera. Not ECT”

Also, correct me if I’m wrong, but when using ‘etc.’ in a sentence, it should include a full stop.

Swipe left for the next trending thread