If you’ve been wondering what does et al mean, the answer is simple: it means “and others.” Writers use this Latin abbreviation to shorten citations with several authors.
Short answer: Et al. stands for Latin forms that mean “and others,” and it usually follows the first author’s surname in shortened citations. Write it with no period after “et” and one period after “al.” The author threshold and reference-list rules depend on your citation style.
| Quick fact | Answer |
|---|---|
| Meaning | “And others” |
| Correct spelling | et al. |
| Period | After “al.” only |
| Italics | Usually no |
| APA 7 in-text use | Three or more authors |
| MLA 9 use | Three or more authors |
| Chicago 18 in-text use | Three or more authors in the current author-date guide |
Key takeaways
- The expression is mainly used to shorten long lists of authors.
- “Et” is a complete Latin word, so it does not take a period.
- The shortened “al.” does take a period.
- APA, MLA, and Chicago have different rules for reference lists.
- Check the edition of the style guide, as older Chicago guidance may now be outdated.
What Does Et Al Mean in Academic Writing?
The expression comes from Latin forms such as et al. et al. ii, et al. iae, and et al. ia. These forms convey the idea of “and others.” The abbreviation saves space when a book, paper, or other work has several contributors.
You’ll see it most often after the surname of the first-listed author. The reader can then use that name to locate the full source information.
The two parts have different functions. “Et” is Latin for “and”, and the second part is abbreviated. That is why the period belongs after “al” rather than after “et”.
This expression should not be confused with “etc.” The latter means “and other things” or “and so forth.” The citation abbreviation represents other people or contributors.
If you’re learning citation basics for coursework, you can also browse the Notepare Education section for more educational material.
When Should You Use the Abbreviation?
There is no single author-count rule for every citation system. You first need to know which style your instructor, journal, or publisher requires.
Here is a practical comparison:
| Citation style | In-text rule | End-of-paper rule |
| APA 7 | For 3+ authors, use the first surname followed by the shortened form: (Garcia et al., 2025) | List up to 20 authors rather than using the shortcut |
| MLA 9 | For 3+ authors: (Garcia et al. 42) | For three or more authors, normally use the first-listed author plus the shortened form |
| Chicago 18 author-date | Current guidance shortens 3+ authors in text: (Garcia et al. 2025, 42) | List up to 6 authors; for more than 6, give the first 3 and shorten the rest |
APA 7th edition
APA 7 uses the shortened author form from the first in-text citation whenever a work has three or more authors. A source with two authors continues to name both.
The reference list follows a different rule. APA lists as many as 20 authors. If a work has more than 20 authors, the reference gives the first 19 names, an ellipsis, and the final author.
That distinction matters. A student may correctly shorten the citation in a paragraph but incorrectly copy the same shortened form into the reference list.
MLA 9th edition
MLA also shortens citations for sources with three or more authors. The first-listed author identifies the source, while the abbreviation represents the remaining names.
MLA uses the same principle in Works Cited entries with three or more authors. Official MLA guidance says that the first author is normally given, followed by the abbreviation.
Punctuation changes with context. In a parenthetical MLA citation, the author information is normally followed directly by the page number rather than by an APA-style comma.
Chicago 18th edition
Chicago deserves extra care because older online guides may give different thresholds.
The current 18th-edition Chicago author-date guide says that, for works with three or more authors, only the first author is named in the text, followed by the shortened form. Its reference list guidance allows up to six authors. For works with more than six authors, it lists the first three and shortens the remainder.
Chicago’s current notes-and-bibliography guide also shortens notes for works with three or more authors. Bibliographies give up to six names before a different shortening rule applies.
This is why checking the edition matters. Guidance written for Chicago 17 may not match Chicago 18.
Punctuation and Formatting Rules That Prevent Easy Mistakes
The correct form is Smith et al. (2025). The period goes after “al.” because that part is abbreviated. Writing Smith et. al. incorrectly adds a period after a complete Latin word. Writing Smith etal.l (2025) omits the required period.
Modern citation styles normally use regular type rather than italics. MLA’s Style Center specifically instructs writers not to italicize the abbreviation in citations and Works Cited entries.
Capitalization is also straightforward. In the middle of a citation, use lowercase. If the expression happens to begin a sentence, normal sentence capitalization applies.
The punctuation that follows depends on the citation system. APA places a comma before the publication year in a parenthetical citation. MLA normally places the page number after the author information without that comma.
Why Citation Styles Have Different Rules
Citation systems have the same basic goal: to identify a source without making the text difficult to read. They differ in how much author information they want readers to see.
APA includes more author detail in the reference list while keeping multi-author in-text citations short. MLA also shortens Works Cited entries once a source has three or more authors.
Chicago separates its rules according to its author-date and notes-and-bibliography systems. That makes the style name and edition number as important as the number of authors.
A rule copied from a random citation example may therefore be wrong for your assignment, even if the punctuation looks convincing.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One common error is putting a period after both parts of the abbreviation. Another is omitting the final period. Students also mix citation systems. An APA rule should not automatically be applied to an MLA Works Cited entry or a Chicago bibliography.
Using the shortcut for a two-author source is another frequent mistake. APA and MLA normally require both authors when there are only two. Current Chicago author-date guidance does the same.
Older instructions create another problem. Chicago changed with its 18th edition, so check whether an online guide states which edition it covers.
For other plain-language explainers across different subjects, you can browse the latest articles on Notepare.
A 30-Second Citation Check Before You Submit
Before turning in a paper, identify the citation style and edition your instructor requires. Then count the authors on the source.
Next, check whether you are formatting an in-text citation, footnote, Works Cited entry, bibliography, or APA reference. These locations do not always follow the same author rules.
Confirm the author threshold for your style. Check the period after the abbreviated portion, and make sure you have not added one after “et.”
Finally, look for two sources that would become unclear after shortening. Citation manuals sometimes require additional names or other information when two shortened citations would otherwise look identical.
The Simple Rule to Remember
The meaning itself is easy: “and others.” Most mistakes come from applying the wrong style rule, not from misunderstanding the Latin. Start by checking your required citation style and edition. Then decide whether you are working with an in-text citation or a full source entry.
If you find a questionable citation rule on Notepare or want to suggest an education topic, you can contact Notepare.
Frequently Asked Questions
It means “and others.” The expression indicates that additional authors or contributors are present but omitted from the shortened citation.
The first form is correct. “Et” is a complete Latin word meaning “and,” while “al.” is abbreviated. That is why only the second part receives a period.
Usually not. Modern academic citation examples use regular type. MLA explicitly says not to italicize it in parenthetical citations or Works Cited entries.
Not under the standard APA 7 or MLA 9 rules. Both authors are normally named when a source has two authors. Current Chicago author-date guidance also names both authors.
That depends on the style. APA 7 does not use the shortcut for ordinary reference entries. MLA uses it for works with three or more authors. Chicago 18 uses it after the first three names when a reference has more than six authors.
Yes, when it represents several authors. Write “Garcia and colleagues argue” rather than treating the group as a single person. The expression normally represents multiple people.
