Whether you’re a student writing your first research paper or someone double-checking APA rules, seeing “et al.” for the first time can feel confusing. I still remember staring at my college reference list thinking, “Why are they using Latin? And what does et al. even mean?”
If you’ve ever asked “what does et al mean in APA?”, don’t worry — you’re definitely not alone.
Quick Answer:
“Et al.” means “and others.”
In APA style, it’s a short, academic way to refer to multiple authors without writing every name.
🧠 What Does “Et Al.” Mean in APA?
“Et al.” is short for the Latin phrase “et alia,” meaning “and others.”
In APA, you use “et al.” when a source has three or more authors.
Example sentence:
“Smith et al. (2020) found that social media affects sleep patterns.”
In short:
Et al. = And others = Used for 3+ authors in APA.
📱 Where Is “Et Al.” Commonly Used?
You’ll most often see “et al.” in:
- 📚 Academic essays
- 🎓 College research papers
- 🧪 Scientific studies
- 📖 Reference lists
- ✍️ In-text citations
Tone:
- ✔️ Formal
- ✔️ Academic
- ✔️ Professional
- ❌ Not used in casual writing or texting
💬 Examples of “Et Al.” in Conversation
1
A: “How do I cite multiple authors in APA?”
B: “Use et al. for three or more authors.”
2
A: “Do I italicize et al.?”
B: “Nope! Just write it normally.”
3
A: “Does et al. go in the reference list too?”
B: “Yes, but only after the first 19 authors.”
4
A: “What if a paper has three authors?”
B: “Then you use et al. in your in-text citation.”
5
A: “Do I include commas with et al.?”
B: “Only after the author’s name.”
6
A: “Does APA 7 use et al. differently?”
B: “Yes — APA 6 used it later, APA 7 uses it earlier.”
🕓 When to Use and When NOT to Use “Et Al.” in APA
✅ Use “Et Al.” When:
- A source has 3 or more authors
- You’re writing an APA-style academic paper
- You want to avoid repeating long author lists
- You’re citing a study multiple times
❌ Do NOT Use “Et Al.” When:
- A source has only 1–2 authors
- You’re writing informally (emails, notes, messages)
- You want to list ALL authors in the reference list (up to 20)
- You’re not following APA style
⭐ Comparison Table
| Context | Example Phrase | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| In-text citation | “Johnson et al. (2021) argue…” | Short & APA-compliant |
| Reference list | “Johnson, M., Lee, P., et al.” | Used when 20+ authors |
| “Johnson and others said this.” | More casual | |
| Academic writing | “Et al. supports this theory.” | Formal & correct |
🔄 Similar Terms or Alternatives
| Term | Meaning | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| And others | Same meaning | Informal writing |
| Et alia | “And others” (full Latin) | Rare; not used in APA |
| Et alii | “And other men” | Historical Latin |
| Et aliae | “And other women” | Not used in APA |
| Various authors | Multiple contributors | General writing |
❓ FAQs
1. Is “et al.” italicized in APA?
No. Write it in plain text.
2. Do I add a period after “al”?
Yes — always as “et al.”
3. When do I first use “et al.” in APA 7?
When a source has three or more authors, even on first mention.
4. Do I use “et al.” in the reference list?
Only when a source has more than 20 authors.
5. Do I capitalize “et al.”?
Only when it starts a sentence.
6. Does MLA use “et al.” too?
Yes, but with slightly different rules.
🧩 Mini Quiz – Test Your Knowledge
1. What does “et al.” mean?
A) And similar
✔️ B) And others
C) And authors
2. When do you use “et al.” in APA?
✔️ A) When a source has 3 or more authors
B) Only when a source has 10+ authors
C) Never
3. Should “et al.” be italicized?
A) Yes
✔️ B) No
C) Only in references
📝 Conclusion
“Et al.” is one of the simplest APA rules once you understand it. Since it means “and others,” it helps keep your citations clean and easy to read — especially when studies have long author lists. Now that you know when, where, and how to use “et al.,” your APA citations will be clearer, more professional, and fully accurate.
If you’re writing academic papers often, this tiny Latin phrase will quickly become your best friend!
