- First of all, in that example I'd say you would not have the last comma. So it's:
Things like a, b, c, d...
Certainly in English people use that form in emails, for sure.
It is completely normal and understandable to use an ellipsis for unfinished, continuing, lists.
Note that one particular use is to strike a humourous note:
It is completely normal and understandable to use an ellipsis (or just three dots if you care to make the typographical distinction) for unfinished, continuing, lists. It's often used particularly to strike a humorous note. "There's my ex-wife Cindy. And there are my ex-wives Helena, Georgia, Audrey..."
And here is my ex-wife Cindy. And there are my ex-wives Helena, Georgia, Audrey...
You are right that it is probably "rather informal": you'd probably not use it in, say, a novel. I'd say you'd see it in magazines fairly often. More "stuffy" newspapers would avoid it, it would not be in their style guide.
You are quite right that it is "not really correct enough" to use in a printed book such as a novel. I'm pretty sure I've seen it a few times in, say, popular novels by Tom Clancy. But you're right, it's "not very posh," so you generally wouldn't see it in literature. And it's generally too jokey for non-fiction.
I'd say you'd see it in magazines, certainly anything like Playboy or Wired. It would certainly be used (particularly for sarcastic, comic effect) in magazine articles in the UK, by, say, Jeremy Clarkson.
It is completely and absolutely 100% understandable as an "unfinished list" to any anglophone.
Just for the record it is used somewhat technically by mathematicians, computer scientists, when discussing ongoing series, etc.
It is 100.0% understandable as an "unfinished list" to any anglophone.
I hope this helps giveNote that you would not have a comma after the feel!last item before the dots.
