ditto

Ditto is a term used to indicate repetition of a previously mentioned item. In writing, ditto marks, two small marks resembling quotation marks, are placed to stand in for repeating a word or phrase. In lists and manuscripts they help avoid unnecessary repetition. The word can also function as a noun or interjection in modern English, meaning the same as above or the same thing.

Etymology and usage: The word ditto comes from the Italian detto meaning said, from dire to say. It entered English in the early modern period. Ditto marks arose in printing and manuscript traditions to indicate repetition and have persisted in various forms, though their use has diminished with modern typography and word processing.

Ditto machine: The ditto machine, or spirit duplicator, was a copying device used to produce multiple copies from a master sheet. The copies were produced with a solvent and wax-like film, often leaving a distinctive purple impression. It was common in schools and small offices until photocopying and digital printing replaced it in the 1960s to 1980s.

Ditto in popular culture: Ditto is a Pokémon species introduced in Generation I. It is a pink gelatinous creature that can transform into other Pokémon using the move Transform. Its hidden ability, Imposter, allows it to copy the opposing Pokémon on entering battle. The term ditto is also used in everyday language to denote copying or repetition.