The noun whatnot, meaning unspecified assorted objects or material, is one word. The phrase and whatnot carries essentially the same meaning as et cetera or and such, but whatnot is more informal, and it might be considered out of place in formal writing.
Whatnot has a second definition—a portable stand with shelves, used to display ornaments—but this sense of the word is rarely used.
Examples
In these examples, what not could be condensed into the one-word whatnot:
It’s one thing to keep it trimmed and watered and what not. [Primary Ignition]
Scoma tells Leslie she’ll need two sponsors to be considered for membership, and they’ll also need to conduct a background check and what not. [D Magazine]
And these writers use whatnot well:
As Mike Tomlin pointed out yesterday, many of those released missed a lot of time anyway because of injuries and whatnot. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
But this choice is connected to … his view that the current fashion in men’s clothing is so horrible – saggy denim and whatnot. [Sydney Morning Herald]
I know the convention with fantasy parties is to say you’d have Mandela and Hitler and whatnot … [Guardian]
