On the usage of "etcetera"?

Question

In Spanish, we use the word _etcétera_ at the end of an enumeration to imply there are more things to mention, which may (or not) be important, but they will be omitted. Thus, I was fairly surprised yesterday when I was told that finishing enumerations in English using _etcetera_ is improper.Is there any good replacement for _etcetera_, something that may be used in a formal register without taking too many words, and not dependent on the context?

Answer 1

I am slightly confused by this question ("etc." or "etcetera" might be replaceable with "et. al." or "et alla". Etcetera could be interpreted in English as 'odds and ends', especially when related to other things of the same kind.. "Et alla" is interpreted as 'and others', in general. I worked previously in law offices, so the term et. al. was used when listing other companies or litigants, etc., related to a case).