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used to refer to additional people or things not explicitly listed
The winners were Alice, Bob, and others.
The winners included Alice and Bob, plus additional unnamed individuals.
This technique is used in physics, chemistry, and others.
This technique applies to physics and chemistry, among other fields.
Commonly used in academic, legal, and technical writing to avoid listing every item.
Always ensure the reader can infer what 'others' refers to. For example, 'The study involved participants from the US, UK, and others' implies additional countries, but 'others' could be ambiguous. Specify if possible.
Do not use 'and others' if the additional items are not implied by the context. For example, 'The team consists of John, Sarah, and others' is clear, but 'The team consists of John, Sarah, and others in the department' is ambiguous.
The phrase 'and others' is a straightforward combination of the conjunction 'and' and the pronoun 'others,' first recorded in English in the 16th century. The abbreviation 'et al.' comes from Latin 'et alii' (masculine), 'et aliae' (feminine), or 'et alia' (neuter), meaning 'and others.'
Used in formal writing to avoid listing every item. Ensure the context makes it clear what 'others' refers to. Avoid overuse in informal contexts.