Et Al.: Meaning and How to Use in MLA, APA, and Chicago

Et al. is a Latin abbreviation that means “and others.” It is commonly used in academic and scholarly writing to refer to a source with multiple authors when only the first author’s name is provided. The use of et al. allows writers to concisely cite a source without having to list all the authors’ names, which can be particularly useful when the source has a long list of authors.

Understanding the proper usage of et al. is crucial in academic writing, as it ensures that citations and references are formatted correctly according to the specific style guide, such as MLA, APA, or Chicago. By mastering the application of et al., writers can streamline their citations, maintain consistency, and focus on effectively communicating their ideas.

Meaning of “Et Al.”

“Et al.” is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase “et alia,” meaning “and others.” It is primarily used in academic writing to simplify citations involving works authored by multiple individuals. Instead of listing each author’s name, “et al.” allows writers to reference the first author followed by “et al.” to indicate the presence of additional authors (Anderson et al. 2020). This abbreviation streamlines the citation process, especially when dealing with works authored by numerous individuals.

Usage of “Et Al.” in Different Citation Styles

MLA Style

The MLA citation style is commonly used in the humanities, particularly in literature, languages, and cultural studies. In MLA style, “et al.” is used in both in-text citations and the Works Cited page to reference sources with three or more authors.

In-Text Citations:

When citing a source with three or more authors in MLA, the first author’s last name is followed by “et al.” and the page number (if applicable). For example:

• According to recent research, the phenomenon is well-documented (Johnson et al. 45).

In this example, Johnson is the first author, and “et al.” indicates that there are additional authors contributing to the work.

Works Cited Page:

On the Works Cited page, the first author’s last name is listed, followed by their first name, and then “et al.” The rest of the citation follows the standard MLA format. For example:

• Johnson, Sarah, et al. Title of the Book. Publisher, Year.

In this entry, “et al.” is used to indicate that there are additional authors beyond Sarah Johnson who contributed to the book.

Key Points to Remember in MLA:

• “Et al.” should be used only when there are three or more authors.
• The first author’s name should always be listed before “et al.”
• “Et al.” is followed by a period.

APA Style

APA style is widely used in the social sciences, including psychology, sociology, and education. The rules for using “et al.” in APA style differ slightly from those in MLA, particularly in how it is used in in-text citations and the reference list.

In-Text Citations:

In APA style, “et al.” is used in in-text citations for works with three or more authors. Unlike MLA, APA uses the term “et al.” from the very first citation of the source. For example:

• Recent studies have shown significant results (Brown et al., 2019).

Here, Brown is the first author, and “et al.” signifies that there are other authors associated with the work. Note that APA style includes the publication year in the in-text citation, following “et al.”

Reference List:

In the reference list, APA style requires that all authors be listed for works with up to 20 authors. If there are more than 20 authors, the first 19 authors’ names are listed, followed by an ellipsis, and then the last author’s name without using “et al.” For example:

• Brown, L., Davis, M., Evans, T., … White, J. (2019). Title of the Article. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), pages.

Key Points to Remember in APA:

• “Et al.” is used for in-text citations with three or more authors.
• All authors are listed in the reference list if there are up to 20 authors.
• For works with more than 20 authors, list the first 19, followed by an ellipsis, and then the final author’s name without using “et al.”

Chicago Style

The Chicago Manual of Style is used across various disciplines, including history, arts, and sciences. Chicago style has two systems: the Notes and Bibliography system and the Author-Date system. The use of “et al.” varies slightly between these two systems.

Notes and Bibliography:

In the Notes and Bibliography system, “et al.” is used in footnotes or endnotes when citing a work with four or more authors. The first author’s name is listed, followed by “et al.” For example:

• In the bibliography, however, Chicago style prefers listing all authors’ names for a complete citation.

Author-Date:

In the Author-Date system, “et al.” is used in in-text citations when referencing works with four or more authors, similar to APA style. For example:

• (Keller et al. 2020, 123)

Key Points to Remember in Chicago:

• “Et al.” is used for footnotes or endnotes with four or more authors in the Notes and Bibliography system.
• In the Author-Date system, “et al.” is used in-text for works with four or more authors.
• In the bibliography (Notes and Bibliography system), it is preferable to list all authors’ names, unlike in APA or MLA.

Harvard Style

Harvard style, commonly used in the humanities and social sciences, has its own rules for using “et al.” in citations and reference lists, differing from both APA and MLA.

In-Text Citations:

In Harvard style, “et al.” is used in in-text citations for works with four or more authors. Unlike APA style, Harvard style includes “et al.” only after the first author’s surname. For example:

Recent studies have shown significant results (Brown et al., 2019).

Here, Brown is the first author, and “et al.” signifies that there are other authors associated with the work. Note that Harvard style, like APA, includes the publication year in the in-text citation following “et al.”

Reference List:

In the reference list, Harvard style requires that all authors be listed for works with up to three authors. If there are four or more authors, only the first author’s name is listed, followed by “et al.” without mentioning the other authors. For example:

Brown, L., et al., 2019. Title of the Article. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), pages.

Key Points to Remember in Harvard:

• “Et al.” is used in in-text citations with four or more authors.
• All authors are listed in the reference list if there are up to three authors.
• For works with four or more authors, list the first author’s name followed by “et al.” in the reference list.

How to Write” Et Al.” in a Review of Literature?

1. In-Text Citations:
   • For sources with 3 or more authors, use the first author’s last name followed by “et al.” in the in-text citation. Example: (Anderson et al., 2022)
2. Reference List:
   • For sources with 3 or more authors, list only the first author’s name followed by “et al.” in the reference list entry. Example: Anderson, J., et al. (2022). Title of work. Publisher.

Here’s an example of how this would look in a review of the literature:

In a study examining the effects of mindfulness training, Anderson et al. (2022) found that participants experienced reduced stress and improved focus. Similarly, Nguyen et al. (2018) reported that incorporating mindfulness techniques into the workplace led to increased employee well-being and productivity.

In the reference list:

Anderson, J., Jones, B., Williams, C., & Brown, D. (2022). The benefits of mindfulness training. Journal of Mindfulness, 15(2), 123-145.

Nguyen, S., Ramirez, A., Flores, M., Sutton, B., & Gonzalez, C. (2018). Improving workplace wellness through mindfulness. (Doctoral dissertation). University of California, Berkeley.

The key things to note are:

• In the in-text citations, use the first author’s last name followed by “et al.” when there are 3+ authors
• In the reference list, list only the first author’s name followed by “et al.” for sources with 3+ authors
• This helps keep the citations concise while still providing the necessary source information

Maintaining consistency in the use of “et al.” is important throughout the review of literature to clearly and efficiently communicate the research that has been conducted on the topic.

When to Use “Et Al.”

Here are the main guidelines for when to use “et al.” in academic citations:

1. When there are 3 or more authors:
   • Use “et al.” after the first author’s name in in-text citations.
   • Use “et al.” after the first author’s name in the reference list entry.

Example: In-text citation: (Anderson et al., 2022) Reference list: Anderson, J., Jones, B., Williams, C., & Brown, D. (2022). Title of work. Publisher.

2. When there are 2 authors:
   • List both authors’ names in the citation, do not use “et al.”

Example: In-text citation: (Anderson & Jones, 2022) Reference list: Anderson, J., & Jones, B. (2022). Title of work. Publisher.

3. When there is 1 author:
   • Use only the single author’s name, do not use “et al.”

Example: In-text citation: (Anderson, 2022) Reference list: Anderson, J. (2022). Title of work. Publisher.

The general rule is to use “et al.” only when there are 3 or more authors. For works with 1 or 2 authors, list out all the names instead. This helps provide the most complete citation information while also allowing for a more concise format when there are multiple authors.

Common Mistakes in Using “Et Al.”

Despite its usefulness, “et al.” is often misused in academic writing. Below are some common mistakes to avoid:

• Incorrect Punctuation:
  • “Et al.” should always be followed by a period because it is an abbreviation. A common mistake is to omit the period, as in “et al” instead of “et al.”

Bad Punctuation	Good Punctuation
Smith et al wrote…	Smith et al. wrote…
Johnson, et al, found…	Johnson, et al., found…
In 2020, Doe et al conducted…	In 2020, Doe et al. conducted…
The study by Brown et al shows…	The study by Brown et al. shows…
Green et al were responsible for…	Green et al. were responsible for…

• Misplacing “Et Al.”:
  • “Et al.” should follow the first author’s last name. Placing it after the first name or using it in place of the author’s name is incorrect.
• Using “Et Al.” When Not Needed:
  • Avoid using “et al.” when citing works with fewer than three authors in MLA or APA, or fewer than four authors in Chicago’s Author-Date system.
• Incorrect Capitalization:
  • “Et al.” should always be lowercase unless it begins a sentence. Starting it with a capital letter within a citation is incorrect.
• Not Using “Et Al.” for Subsequent Citations in APA:
  • In APA style, “et al.” should be used from the first in-text citation for works with three or more authors. Failing to use “et al.” in subsequent citations is a common mistake.

Examples of How “et al.” is Used in Research Citations

• Journal Article: Kramer, A. B., Miller, J., Nguyen, T., & Flores, R. (2021). New findings on the benefits of meditation. Journal of Mindfulness, 15(2), 123-145. When citing this in the text: (Kramer et al., 2021)
• Book: Wilson, E., Chu, H., Ramirez, M., Sutton, K., & Alvarez, J. (2020). Sustainable agriculture practices. Farming Press. When citing this in the text: (Wilson et al., 2020)
• Conference Proceedings: Hassan, N., Brooks, P., Chu, L., Mena, R., & Gonzalez, D. (2019). Improving software testing techniques. In Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Software Engineering (pp. 392-401). ACM. When citing this in the text: (Hassan et al., 2019)
• Dissertation/Thesis: Nguyen, S., Ramirez, A., Flores, M., Sutton, B., & Gonzalez, C. (2018). The impact of machine learning on business forecasting. (Doctoral dissertation). University of California, Berkeley. When citing this in the text: (Nguyen et al., 2018)
• Government Report: Morris, T., Chu, H., Alvarez, J., Sutton, K., & Ramirez, M. (2017). National climate change assessment. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. When citing this in the text: (Morris et al., 2017)

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