What does etc mean in a text message?

In a text message, etc. means “and other things,” just like it does in any other piece of writing. “Etc.” is the abbreviation for “et cetera.”  It’s used at the end of a list where everything is part of the same category, like these examples:

  • Vegans don’t consume any dairy products (cheese, milk, yogurt, etc.).
  • Megan asked for makeup (lip gloss, eyeshadow, etc.) for her birthday.
  • We’re growing all of the ingredients for salsa in our garden: tomatoes, onions, peppers, etc.

The QuillBot app can help you use “etc.” correctly in text messages.