Et Al. Meaning: What It Means and How to Use It Correctly

"Et al." is one of the most common abbreviations in academic writing. Many writers aren't sure what it means or how to use it. This guide explains the meaning and shows how the rules differ across APA, MLA, and Chicago. For citation mechanics in each style, see our companion guide on how to use et al. in citations.

What Does Et Al. Mean?

The phrase comes from Latin. The full forms are et alii (masculine), et aliae (feminine), and et alia (neuter). All three mean "and others." The short form appears in citations, reference lists, and bibliographies.

Use the abbreviation when a source has three or more authors. Listing every name each time clutters the text. The short form keeps the citation clean.

Picture a 2022 study by four Ohio State researchers: Anong, Johnson, Anderson, and Brown. Listing all four names each time slows the reader. The short form solves this.

When to Use Et Al. Across Citation Styles

The rules differ across major style guides. Two things vary: how many authors trigger the abbreviation, and where it can appear. The table below shows the rules.

For style-by-style examples, see our companion guide on how to use et al. in APA, MLA, and Chicago citations.

Et Al. in a Sentence: Basic Examples

Here is what correct usage looks like. The examples use the 2022 study by Anong, Johnson, Anderson, and Brown.

Narrative citation (author in the sentence):

• Anong et al. (2022) found a strong link between financial literacy and household savings.

Parenthetical citation (author in parentheses):

• Financial literacy was a strong predictor of household savings (Anong et al., 2022).

In both cases, only the first author's last name appears. The other three are understood to be included.

Formatting Rules

These rules apply across every citation style.

• Period after "al." only. "Al" is short for alii, aliae, or alia. It always takes a period. "Et" is a full word and never takes one. The correct form is "et al." Not "et. al." Not "et al" without the period.
• No italics. APA, MLA, and Chicago don't require italics. The one exception is when you discuss the term itself, as this article does.
• No comma between the abbreviation and the year in APA. The correct form is (Anong et al., 2022). The comma follows "et al."
• Distinguish ambiguous citations. Two sources may shorten to the same form in the same year. Add author names until the two look different. For example: (Anong, Johnson, Anderson, et al., 2022) and (Anong, Johnson, Williams, et al., 2022).
• Don't use it for two-author sources. Two-author works list both names in full, every time.
• Don't use it for organizational authors. The short form is for human authors. Government agencies, university presses, and other institutional authors get the full name.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced writers make these errors.

• Writing "et. al." "Et" is a full word, not an abbreviation. The period belongs after "al." only.
• Writing "et al" without a period. "Al." always takes a period. Missing it is a common proofreading slip.
• Italicizing the abbreviation. APA, MLA, and Chicago don't require italics in citations.
• Using it for two-author sources. Two-author works list both names, every time.
• Forgetting to distinguish ambiguous citations. Two sources by the same first author in the same year need extra names to tell them apart.
• Applying APA 6 rules to a 7th edition paper. APA 7 simplified the rules. The short form now appears from the first citation onward.
• Using the short form in an APA reference list. APA reserves the abbreviation for in-text citations only. The reference list must include every author up to 20.

When Not to Use It

The abbreviation works for multi-author citations. It does not apply in these cases.

• Two-author sources. List both names in full.
• Organizational or institutional authors. List the full name, even when several organizations share credit.
• APA reference lists for sources with 20 or fewer authors. Every author goes in the reference entry. You may have used the short form in every in-text citation, but the reference list is different.
• MLA narrative citations. When the author names appear in your sentence, MLA suggests an English equivalent like "and colleagues."

Some journals don't require a specific style. They ask only that you be consistent. The Journal of Economic Psychology, for example, accepts any style as long as it stays the same throughout.

Frequently Asked Questions

When to Get Help with Academic Citations

Citation errors are among the most common problems caught during academic editing. Inconsistent use of the abbreviation, missing reference list entries, and mismatched in-text and bibliography citations can delay submissions. They can also trigger desk rejections. The detail work matters most for theses, dissertations, and manuscripts heading to peer review. Reviewers spot citation problems fast.

Editor World provides professional academic editing for students, graduate researchers, and faculty. Every edit reviews citation formatting and consistency across APA, MLA, Chicago, and other major styles. Every editor is a native English speaker with an advanced degree. Every document is reviewed by a real person, never by AI. To see who would be working on your document, choose your own editor from the Editor World roster. You can also request a free sample edit of up to 300 words before booking.

This article was reviewed by the Editor World academic team. Editor World, founded in 2010 by Patti Fisher, PhD, provides professional editing and proofreading services for students, academics, and researchers worldwide.