As you are most likely aware, “et al.” is used to save writing out multiple authors’ names in various types of referencing styles.
Exactly when and how it is used depends on the referencing style, but there are some issues associated with its use that, as a proofreader, you should keep an eye out for.
Launch the microlearning module below to learn more about using et al. and to test your knowledge using our interactive quiz.
Alternatively, read on for a text-only version of the microlearning.
Here are the things you should always remember about et al.:
How many authors need to be involved before et al. comes into play? Most styles require it for three or more authors, but there can be variations.
The table below shows how many authors are needed for et al. to be required in citations written in various common referencing styles. Note that the styles may have additional rules for avoiding ambiguity, for example.
Many reference systems have different rules for how et al. is used in the reference list compared to how it is used in in-text citations or footnotes.
Of the six referencing systems discussed here, the awkward ones are:
As a proofreader, you’re going to encounter “et al.” at some point. You don’t need to memorise everything in this short guide; the main thing is to be aware of the issues and know when they’re likely to be affected by a referencing style.
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