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This article was co-authored by Noah Taxis and by wikiHow staff writer, Elaine Heredia, BA. Noah Taxis is an English Teacher based in San Francisco, California. He has taught as a credentialed teacher for over four years: first at Mountain View High School as a 9th- and 11th-grade English Teacher, then at UISA (Ukiah Independent Study Academy) as a Middle School Independent Study Teacher. He is now a high school English teacher at St. Ignatius College Preparatory School in San Francisco. He received an MA in Secondary Education and Teaching from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education. He also received an MA in Comparative and World Literature from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a BA in International Literary & Visual Studies and English from Tufts University.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
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"Et al." is a convenient way to reference a work with three or more authors without having to spell out all their names. In this article, we'll explain how to use "et al." when writing academic papers and other publications according to the MLA, APA, and CMS rules for citing sources. We'll also answer if it's appropriate to use "et al." in your salutation when you're emailing multiple people at the same time, with expert insights from English teacher Noah Taxis and etiquette coach Tami Claytor.
When should I use "et al."?
English teacher Noah Taxis says you use “et al.” to abbreviate a list of authors on a publication. Specifically, use "et al." to cite a work by 3 or more authors. For MLA, use it in in-text citations and the Works Cited page. For APA, use it in in-text citations. For CMS, use it in in-text citations and footnotes.
Steps
Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I use et al in a will when gifting a house that I want to stay in the family?
DonaganTop AnswererYou should be as specific as possible when naming people in a will, and "et al." is not very specific. -
QuestionHow do I use et al. in a signature?
DonaganTop AnswererWhere a formal signature is required, "et al." would not be used, because it refers to a group of people.
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QuestionCan I use et al. in a resume?
DonaganTop AnswererYes, in the unlikely event that you're trying to shorten a long list of names.
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References
- ↑ Noah Taxis. English Teacher. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/et-al
- ↑ Noah Taxis. English Teacher. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_in_text_citations_the_basics.html
- ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/reference_list_author_authors.html
- ↑ https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-2.html
- ↑ https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-2.html
- ↑ Tami Claytor. Etiquette Coach. Expert Interview
- ↑ Noah Taxis. English Teacher. Expert Interview
About This Article
To use et al., keep in mind that the Latin phrase means "and others" to help you decide where and when to use it. You can use et al. formally when you're creating in-text citations and parenthetical remarks so that you don't have to list a long string of names. You can also use the phrase in less formal situations, like when you need to refer to a group of coworkers in a work email. Et al. works best when written, so try to avoid using it in general, everyday conversations. To learn more about using et al. correctly in citations, read on!
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