Contents
Can you use et al in references?
A Work by Two Authors: Name both authors in the signal phrase or in parentheses each time you cite the work. In subsequent citations, only use the first author’s last name followed by “et al.” in the signal phrase or in parentheses. (Kernis et al., 1993) In et al., et should not be followed by a period.
Why do you sometimes use et al in a citation?
One of these is the Latin phrase et al., an abbreviation meaning “and others.” It is used to shorten lists of author names in text citations to make repeated referencing shorter and simpler.
How Should et al appear?
Only when a work has six or more authors should the first in-text citation consist of the first author followed by et al. With five or fewer authors, all the author surnames should be spelled out at first mention. 2. Writers also make the opposite error by including all author surnames when et al.
How do you reference if you don’t know the author?
If no author or creator is provided, start the citation with the title/name of the item you are citing instead. Follow the title/name of the item with the date of publication, and the continue with other citation details. Note: an author/creator won’t necessarily be a person’s name.
What does et al mean in legal terms?
and others
Et al. is short for the Latin expression “et alia,” “et alius,” or “et alii.” Et al. means “and others” or “and the other people” and usually follows the name of a person or a list of names and represents the remainder of the group. [Last updated in July of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]
What is et al short for?
When a work has 3-5 authors, cite all the names the first time the reference occurs; in subsequent citations, use the surname of the first author followed by et al. When a work has 6 or more authors, use the surname of the first author followed by et al. every time the reference occurs in the text.