Punctuating "etc." after a series of questions

Question

How should I terminally punctuate etc. when it's used at the end of a series of questions?

How's your brother? Did you get the job? Are you feeling better? Etc.?

Is this right, or do I use a period?

How's your brother? Did you get the job? Are you feeling better? Etc.

Regardless of grammar, if someone wrote etc. after a personal question, I'd take it to mean they weren't that interested in the answer. — user13141, Commented Oct 25, 2011 at 18:32

Hugo · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-25 12:23:47Z

6

Each question is a separate sentence. The Etc. also forms its own sentence, but isn't a question in itself, so I would go for the second one:

How's your brother? Did you get the job? Are you feeling better? Etc.

A better option may be to rewrite to avoid the etc. altogether.

This answer is with British English. It may be the same with American English.

answered Oct 25, 2011 at 12:23

Hugo

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David Bowman · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-25 17:10:35Z

1

"Etc." isn't a question. Here, it indicates "and other similar questions." Thus, no question mark is needed.

answered Oct 25, 2011 at 17:10

David Bowman

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