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Victoria Lopez
when should I use ''so forth'' and ''so on'' ?
what's the difference between them?
so on.
so sorth.
etc.
Aug 14, 2016 6:01 PM
Answers · 5
2
Use "and so on." They mean about the same thing. You can also use "etc." which is spoken aloud as "et cetera."
People who want to be very emphatic about a boring, predictable pattern sometimes use the phrase "and so forth and so on."
"'Now, children, I want you all to sit up just as straight and pretty as you can and give me all your attention for a minute or two.... I want to tell you how good it makes me feel to see so many bright, clean little faces assembled in a place like this, learning to do right and be good.' And so forth and so on. It is not necessary to set down the rest of the oration. It was of a pattern which does not vary, and so it is familiar to us all."--Mark Twain, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer"
August 14, 2016
2
Hello Victoria!
I believe it is the same.
For example, I could say:
I have told my girlfriend some problems about college, work and so on.
I have told my girlfriend some problems about college, work and so forth.
I have told my girlfriend some problems about college, work and so on and so forth.
All of those mean the same.
August 14, 2016
'So on' and 'so forth' mean the same things, which is 'etc'.
In modern English, there are two ways that they are used most naturally.
Either you say 'and so on' at the end or 'so on and so forth.' But nowadays you don't ever say 'and so forth.' even though the meaning is the same. :)
August 14, 2016
and so forth - indicates that a list continues in a similar manner.
and so on - continuing in the same way.
so on and so forth - mean the same as etcetera (etc.).
August 14, 2016
They mean the same thing really, but 'so forth' is a bit old-fashioned - we don't really use it in everyday English.
August 14, 2016
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Victoria Lopez
Language Skills
English, Korean, Spanish
Learning Language
English, Korean
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