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Why are the terms וגומר and וכולו used instead of just writing out the rest of the sentence? When were these terms first instituted?

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5  
Why are abbreviations used? Because it's quicker? – Michoel Feb 18 at 0:43
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Why does English use etc.,, [...], and [et. al.]? – HodofHod Feb 18 at 0:50
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Where do you see them? – Monica Cellio♦ Feb 18 at 0:54
I always thought that וכו' is short for וכולי, not וכולו. I have also seen it written out that way sometimes. – b a Feb 18 at 1:14
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@ba Wikimilon writes as follows: מילה הבאה בסוף רשימת דברים, ומציינת שניתן היה להמשיך ולמנות אותם. קיצור של וכוליה, "וכולו" בארמית. – Fred Feb 18 at 1:18

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I have always understood that וגומר is used when abbreviating a pasuk - lists etc. take וכולי

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You're answering the question that this one isn't but that would, in fact, be more interesting. – Isaac Moses Feb 18 at 6:03

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