1. What is a vague category marker?
A speaker sometimes gives one or two examples and indicates that a wider group lies behind them: ‘pens, notebooks and similar things’. The short expression referring to the rest of that group is a vague category marker. It does not introduce a new item into the conversation. It asks the listener to construct the category from the examples given.
This works through shared knowledge: the listener understands which group is intended because the examples suggest it. Research into business and academic English describes these markers as signals of shared knowledge and group membership: the speaker does not explain the category because they assume the other person knows it.
A marker is therefore not carelessness or an error. However, it is appropriate only when the category can actually be recovered and precision is not the main concern. At C1, it is important both to use these expressions and to recognise where they are unhelpful.
one or more examples + marker → the listener recovers a wider category from context
The museum shop sells postcards, magnets, posters, and the like.
The museum shop sells postcards, magnets, posters, and the like.
The three examples suggest the category of souvenirs; the marker refers to the remaining souvenirs.
He teaches chemistry or something at the local college.
He teaches chemistry or something at the local college.
The speaker is unsure exactly what he teaches; the or-marker signals uncertainty.
2. Expressions by register
There are two types of marker. The and-type continues a list: and so on, and so forth, and the like, and suchlike, and things like that, and that sort of thing, and stuff (like that), and whatnot, and all that. The or-type signals uncertainty or an open choice: or something, or something like that, or whatever, and also or someone and or somewhere for a person or place.
The choice depends on style. And the like and etc. are often found in writing; and so on is a common neutral option. And stuff, and whatnot and or whatever are conversational. Suchlike can also be informal, so it is not a universal replacement for formal writing. In a precise document, it is better to name the required items explicitly.
The marker’s register should match the register of the whole text. This is another reason why the ‘right’ marker depends on the situation, not only its meaning.
The policy covers tutors, examiners, invigilators, and suchlike.
The policy covers tutors, examiners, invigilators, and suchlike.
Suchlike means ‘and similar people or things’; it does not guarantee a formal style. If the list defines rights or responsibilities, clarify the category.
We spent the weekend baking, painting, sorting out the garage, and stuff.
We spent the weekend baking, painting, sorting out the garage, and stuff.
This is a conversational ending in an informal account.
The brochure lists lectures, seminars, workshops, and so forth.
The brochure lists lectures, seminars, workshops, and so forth.
This is a neutral marker suitable for most texts.
3. Fixed forms
In and the like, like is invariable: do not add -s. The likes of is a different construction, as in the likes of him. And so on and and so forth likewise have no plural form.
The abbreviation etc. is read as et cetera and already includes the meaning ‘and’, so do not put and before it. The conversational markers stuff and whatnot also have no plural in this use.
A second marker immediately after the first is usually redundant because both refer to the same remaining items. One clear marker is better than two.
list, and the like (no -s) | list, etc. (no and)
They sell kettles, toasters, blenders, and the like.
They sell kettles, toasters, blenders, and the like.
This is a fixed expression with no added ending.
The folder contained receipts, tickets, forms, etc.
The folder contained receipts, tickets, forms, etc.
Etc. is used without and because it already includes that meaning.
4. Position in the sentence: and or or
An and-marker follows the examples named; sometimes one example is enough if the wider category is clear: music and stuff. Whether a comma appears before the marker depends on the structure and style of the list.
An or-marker can signal an approximate label or an open choice: He is a doctor or something means a doctor or someone with a similar role. And so on, by contrast, continues a list; its appropriateness depends on whether the other intended activities or items are clear.
An and-marker usually means ‘this and similar things’; an or-marker means ‘this or something close to it’. When describing the actual contents of a box, a list with and is natural; if the speaker is unsure what is inside, or something is possible.
item, item, item + and so on | label + or something
The kit includes screwdrivers, pliers, spanners, and so on.
The kit includes screwdrivers, pliers, spanners, and so on.
This is a list with an and-marker.
Grab a jacket, a scarf, or something warm.
Grab a jacket, a scarf, or something warm.
The alternatives are followed by an or-marker.
5. A coherent category
The examples together with the context should suggest the intended group. Paints, brushes and canvases readily relate to painting. Different kinds of items can also form a clear category, such as everything needed for a hike, but without shared context the marker leaves the reader to guess too much.
This also applies to actions and properties: reading, writing, and so on suggests learning skills, whereas a sequence of unrelated actions does not. A useful self-check is to ask whether the listener would know what to add to the list.
The lab sells beakers, flasks, tongs, and the like.
The lab sells beakers, flasks, tongs, and the like.
All the items belong to one category, so the marker is clear.
She enjoys hiking, kayaking, climbing, and that sort of thing.
She enjoys hiking, kayaking, climbing, and that sort of thing.
These are related activities: outdoor recreation.
6. When a marker is unhelpful
A vague marker is inappropriate when the listener must act on every item, as in safety instructions, contracts, tables of values and checklists. The person following them should not have to infer what ‘and other things’ conceals.
A second risk is a false impression of completeness. If you have checked only two options, a marker implies that the rest are similar even though you do not know that. It is more accurate to name what was checked and state explicitly what was not.
A third problem arises when the listener does not share your category, for example a reader from another field or culture. The marker then points to nothing recoverable. When a list really is exhaustive, say so explicitly with nothing else or only.
Please switch off the oven, the hob, and the extractor fan.
Please switch off the oven, the hob, and the extractor fan.
The instruction names every item without a marker.
I have only tested the Windows build; I do not know about the others.
I have only tested the Windows build; I do not know about the others.
There is no implication of completeness: the sentence states what has been tested.
7. Boundaries with related rules
This rule concerns endings after nouns or lists that refer to the rest of a category. Numerical approximations such as about, roughly and or so before or after numbers belong to the rule on approximation with quantifiers and hedges. Sort of and kind of before an adjective, verb or noun belong to the rule on deliberate vagueness for pragmatic purposes.
Position and function make the boundary clear. The queue was roughly forty people long approximates a quantity, not a category. The meeting was sort of tense softens an adjective. The queue included students, retirees, and the like refers to the remaining people in the same group, which is the function covered by this rule.
The hall was crowded with students, retirees, and the like.
The hall was crowded with students, retirees, and the like.
The category of people must be recovered from wider context here: students and retirees alone do not unambiguously identify who else is included.
The hall held roughly two hundred people.
The hall held roughly two hundred people.
This is a numerical approximation and belongs to a related rule.
8. Using markers in speech and writing
Before using a marker, ask four questions. Can the listener recover the category? Is an incomplete list acceptable here? What register does the text use? Is this a list, calling for and, or uncertainty, calling for or?
A similar message can easily be rewritten for a different reader: a conversational marker in a chat, a written-style marker in a report, and explicitly named items in instructions. Being able to move between these options is part of fluent use of vague language.
Chat: We need pizza, drinks, and stuff. Report: Catering will include meals, beverages, and the like.
Chat: We need pizza, drinks, and stuff. Report: Catering will include meals, beverages, and the like.
This gives a similar message in different styles. The report version generalises pizza to meals, so it does not preserve every detail literally.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:She bought lamps, chairs, rugs, and the likes.
Correct:She bought lamps, chairs, rugs, and the like.
Do not add -s in the fixed marker and the like. The likes of is a different construction.
Incorrect:My uncle is a baker or somethings.
Correct:My uncle is a baker or something.
Something has no plural form in this marker. Or something signals uncertainty about the exact label.
Incorrect:The bag contained pens, notebooks, and so ons.
Correct:The bag contained pens, notebooks, and so on.
And so on is invariable and has no plural.