What is et al.?

et al. is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase "et alii" (masculine plural), "et aliae" (feminine plural), or "et alia" (neuter plural). It is used in academic writing to shorten lists of https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/author%20names when citing sources. Essentially, it means "and others."

Specifically, et al. is used after the first author's name in a citation when there are more than a certain number of https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/authors involved. The exact number that triggers the use of et al. varies depending on the citation style guide (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). For instance, APA style guidelines currently specify using et al. for sources with three or more authors.

The phrase is typically followed by a period (because it is an abbreviation) and is usually italicized. The placement of et al. within the https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/citation can also vary based on the style guide used.