When to use et al in MLA style
Quick answer: when to use et al in MLA
You should when to use et al in mla whenever a source has three or more authors. In MLA 9th edition, this rule applies to both in-text citations and the Works Cited page. You list the first author's name followed by a comma and the phrase "et al." to represent the remaining contributors.
Author formatting requirements
| Number of Authors | In-Text Citation Format | Works Cited Format |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Author | (Surname Page) | Surname, First Name. |
| 2 Authors | (Surname and Surname Page) | Surname, First Name, and First Name Surname. |
| 3+ Authors | (Surname et al. Page) | Surname, First Name, et al. |
In-text citation examples
When using a parenthetical citation for three or more authors, do not place a comma between the author's name and the page number. - **Parenthetical:** (Smith et al. 42) - **Narrative:** Smith et al. argue that the data is conclusive (42).
Works Cited entry formatting
For the Works Cited page, only the first author's name is inverted (Last Name, First Name). Follow this with a comma and "et al." even if there are ten or more authors.
Example:
Smith, John, et al. The Future of AI in Education. EssayGenius Press, 2024.
Pro tip: watch your punctuation
Always remember that "et" is a word and "al." is an abbreviation. This means you should never put a period after "et," but you must always put one after "al." If the citation ends the sentence, the period after "al." serves as the final punctuation mark unless a page number follows it in parentheses.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you must always place a period after 'al' because it is an abbreviation for the Latin word 'alii'. You do not place a period after 'et' because it is a complete word meaning 'and'.
No, MLA style does not require you to italicize 'et al.' in your citations. It should be written in regular font, even though it is a Latin phrase.
You do not use et al for only two authors. For a source with two authors, list both names in the in-text citation and the Works Cited entry, separated by the word 'and'.
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