I understand that "and so on" normally ends a list. But can I write something like "I don't like music, because [...]. I don't like poetry either, because [...]. Nor like I math, since [...]. And so on."?
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1I do't think so since and so on means and similar things. You can't make a sentence with and similar things because it doesn't express an independent idea. That aside you're making a list and separate the items using a , and suddenly you put a stop to this list by a full stop and then continued your list.– YuriCommented Oct 2, 2016 at 17:28
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3@Yuri I agree, but we have to keep in mind that in less strict forms of writing, especially in creative writing, it's quite possible. For example, check out this example (second paragraph, last sentence): "Indeed, without the action of terrestrial plate tectonics, which depends in part on Earth's internal heat, the chemical and topographic environment at the planet's surface, the interchange among continent, seafloor, and ocean, would be very different . And so on."– Damkerng T.Commented Oct 2, 2016 at 17:46
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Related: ell.stackexchange.com/questions/81439/…– Damkerng T.Commented Oct 2, 2016 at 17:50
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@Damkerng, I wonder, how you have managed to find this example– SergueiCommented Oct 2, 2016 at 17:51
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1@Serguei I found it in Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA). It's quite useful. ;-)– Damkerng T.Commented Oct 2, 2016 at 18:23
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1 Answer
Crediting @Damkerng's insight:
In informal speech and writing, "and so on" is fine as a fragmentary sentence. It's similar to "etc.", and one can add it after a period, as an afterthought.
To avoid using it as a fragmentary sentence, just move it so it's before the period, e.g.
My opinion about the famous song "My Favorite Things": I do not like cream colored ponies, or crisp apple strudels, or doorbells or sleigh bells, or schnitzel with noodles, and so on. But the tune is catchy.
I think that as self-expression, "and so on" would work better after the period in my example sentence. But it's a subtle difference.
(That's not really my opinion. I just needed some material for an example sentence.)
