and stuff

and stuff — idiom

1. used after naming one or two things to show that there are other similar items y

1.idiomA2
Definition

used after naming one or two things to show that there are other similar items you are not listing. Common in everyday spoken English as a quick way to keep a list open-ended.

Example

Trang bought milk, eggs, bread, and stuff for the party this weekend.

Sofia told us about Japan, the food, the temples, and stuff like that.

pattern: 'and stuff like that' for extending a set of examples

Synonyms
  • and so on

    neutral register, suitable for both speech and writing

  • and the like

    slightly more formal; common in written English

  • and such

    informal American English; similar register to 'and stuff'

  • etc.

    abbreviation of 'et cetera'; used in writing, not typically in speech

Usage Note

Only used in informal spoken or casual written English (texts, social media). Avoid in academic essays, formal letters, or business reports — use 'and so on' or 'etc.' instead.

Common Mistakes

The research covers climate change, pollution, and stuff.
The research covers climate change, pollution, and related issues.
'and stuff' is too informal for academic writing.
I bought apples, bananas, and stuffs.
I bought apples, bananas, and stuff.
'stuff' is uncountable; never add -s.

Synonym discussion

Sense: idiom/1

All five phrases signal that a list could continue, but their formality levels differ sharply. 'And stuff' and 'and such' belong to casual conversation — you would use them with friends, not in a job application. 'And so on' is neutral: fine in most speech and in essays. 'And the like' tilts formal and appears more in writing. 'Etc.' (from Latin 'et cetera') is the shortest and most common in note-taking and academic prose, but it sounds stiff when spoken aloud. For example, 'Bring snacks, drinks, and stuff' (friendly text to a housemate) vs. 'The course covers syntax, semantics, and so on' (course description) vs. 'Factors include age, income, education, etc.' (research paper). Choose according to your audience: use 'and stuff' only where you would use slang.

and so on ↗and the like ↗and such ↗etc. ↗

Etymology

Old FrenchEnglish

'And stuff' is a conversational shortening that emerged in informal English during the 1800s. The word 'stuff' (from Old French 'estoffe' meaning 'supplies' or 'material') had already acquired a vague 'miscellaneous items' meaning by the 1600s. Pairing it with 'and' after a list created a handy catch-all phrase — 'and similar things I am not bothering to name'. It remains firmly casual today, rarely appearing in edited writing.