If you are writing an essay, a report, or a research paper and you need to credit a source with several authors, you will quickly meet the phrase “et al.” A clear cite et al example shows you exactly where that phrase goes, how punctuation works, and when it is appropriate to shorten a long author list. This guide gives you a practical cite et al example in the main citation styles, explains the rules behind the abbreviation, and helps you avoid the small errors that markers notice most often.
The term “et al.” comes from Latin and means “and others.” Writers use it to avoid listing every author in the body of a text when a source has three or more authors. The full author list still appears in the reference list or bibliography at the end of the work, so no contributor is hidden permanently. In-text, however, brevity keeps sentences readable, especially when the same source is cited several times. Learning the cite et al example pattern once will save you time in every paper you write.
This guide covers the two styles students meet most often, APA and MLA, with additional notes on other styles. It explains narrative and parenthetical citations, first and later citations, punctuation, capitalisation, and common mistakes. It also includes a table comparing styles and a frequently asked questions section. Keep in mind that institutions sometimes adapt a style, so always check your assignment brief or department guide if it gives specific instructions that differ from the general rules here.
What Does Et Al. Mean in a Cite Et Al Example?
In any cite et al example, the phrase “et al.” replaces the names of the second and later authors. For example, a source by four authors might appear in the text as the first author’s surname followed by “et al.” and the year or page reference, depending on the style. The reader understands that other authors exist, and can find their full names in the reference entry. The period after “al” is part of the abbreviation, because “al.” shortens a Latin word, while “et” is a complete word and takes no period.
Punctuation around “et al.” varies by style, so follow the style you are using rather than copying a pattern from another style. In APA, a parenthetical citation places “et al.” after the first surname, followed by a comma and the year. In MLA, the parenthetical citation normally gives the first surname and “et al.” without a year, often with a page number where relevant. Those small differences are exactly what markers check, so learning one style well is better than mixing two styles in the same paper.
Capitalisation also matters. The phrase is normally written in lower case, “et al.,” unless it begins a sentence, which is rare in citations. It is not usually italicised in APA or MLA in-text citations, although some older guides and some other styles treat Latin abbreviations differently. If your department guide says to italicise it, follow that local instruction, but do not italicise it in APA or MLA unless your brief asks you to.
When Should You Use Et Al.?
Use “et al.” when a source has three or more authors and your style shortens in-text citations to the first author plus “et al.” In APA seventh edition, that shortening applies from the first citation onward for sources with three or more authors. In MLA ninth edition, sources with three or more authors are also shortened to the first author plus “et al.” in the text. For sources with one or two authors, name all authors in the text, because shortening a two-author source would hide half the authorship.
There are exceptions worth knowing. If shortening two different sources would make them look identical, because the first authors share a surname or the sources would otherwise be ambiguous, styles provide disambiguation rules, such as adding more surnames until the sources differ. Check your style guide for those cases rather than guessing. Similarly, in a reference list, all authors are normally listed up to a style-specific limit, so “et al.” in the text never replaces the full reference entry.
Cite Et Al Example in APA Style
APA style is widely used in psychology, education, health sciences, and many social sciences. For a source with three or more authors, the in-text citation gives the first author’s surname, followed by “et al.,” and the year. In a narrative citation, where the author name is part of your sentence, the pattern looks like this: Patel et al. (2021) found that regular revision improved recall. In a parenthetical citation, where the whole citation sits in brackets at the end of a clause, the pattern looks like this: regular revision improved recall (Patel et al., 2021).
Notice the punctuation difference between the two forms. In the narrative form, the year sits in brackets immediately after “et al.,” and the sentence continues. In the parenthetical form, a comma separates “et al.” from the year inside the brackets. Both forms refer to the same source, and both should match a full reference entry that lists all authors up to the APA limit, with the year, title, and publication details.
For a direct quotation in APA, add a page number or a location marker where available. A narrative quotation might read: Patel et al. (2021) argued that “regular, spaced revision beats last-minute cramming” (p. 45). A parenthetical quotation would place the page reference inside the brackets: “regular, spaced revision beats last-minute cramming” (Patel et al., 2021, p. 45). If the source has no page numbers, use a paragraph number, section heading, or other locator as your style guide directs.
APA Examples With Different Author Counts
For one author, cite the surname and year: Sharma (2020) or (Sharma, 2020). For two authors, cite both surnames every time: Sharma and Patel (2020) in narrative form, or (Sharma and Patel, 2020) in parenthetical form, noting that APA uses an ampersand inside brackets in some versions, so follow the edition your institution requires. For three or more authors, use the first surname plus “et al.” from the first citation: Sharma et al. (2020) or (Sharma et al., 2020). That consistency makes APA citations easy to scan once you know the pattern.
A useful check for a cite et al example is to read your sentence aloud. If the citation interrupts the flow, consider moving it to the end of the clause or rewriting the sentence so the author name fits naturally. Good cite et al example practice is not only about correct punctuation; it is also about writing sentences that remain clear and readable for your audience.
Cite Et Al Example in MLA Style
MLA style is widely used in literature, languages, and many humanities subjects. For a source with three or more authors, the in-text citation gives the first author’s surname followed by “et al.” and, where relevant, a page number. A typical cite et al example reads: Patel et al. argue that revision works best when it is spaced over time (45). Note that MLA normally does not include the year in the in-text citation, because the works-cited entry provides the publication details, and the page number points the reader to the exact passage.
In a parenthetical MLA citation, the whole reference sits in brackets: spaced revision improved recall (Patel et al. 45). Notice that there is no comma between “et al.” and the page number in MLA, which differs from APA. That small difference is a common source of errors when students switch between styles, so keep a style sheet beside you while you write, at least until the pattern becomes automatic.
For a source without page numbers, such as many web pages, a cite et al example in MLA uses the first surname plus “et al.” without a page reference, or with another locator if the source provides one. The works-cited entry at the end of the paper still lists the authors, title, container, and publication details in full, so the shortened in-text form never leaves the reader guessing about which source you mean.
MLA Examples With Different Author Counts
For one author, cite the surname and page number: (Sharma 23). For two authors, cite both surnames: (Sharma and Patel 23). For three or more authors, cite the first surname plus “et al.”: (Sharma et al. 23). In prose, you might write: Sharma et al. note that spaced revision helps long-term recall (23). Keeping the cite et al example pattern consistent across your paper makes your citations easy to follow and easy to mark.
MLA also has rules for sources with the same first author, for corporate authors, and for sources with no author, which use a shortened title instead. If you meet one of those cases, consult the MLA guide or your department notes rather than forcing the “et al.” pattern onto a source it does not fit. A correct citation for an unusual source is always better than a neat but wrong one.
| Style | Three or more authors, in text | Parenthetical form | Year included? |
|---|---|---|---|
| APA, seventh edition | First surname et al. plus year | (Patel et al., 2021) | Yes |
| MLA, ninth edition | First surname et al. plus page | (Patel et al. 45) | No |
| Chicago author-date | First surname et al. plus year | (Patel et al. 2021) | Yes |
| Harvard, common variant | First surname et al. plus year | (Patel et al., 2021) | Yes |
| One or two authors, any style | Name all authors | See style guide | Depends on style |
Common Mistakes in a Cite Et Al Example
The most common mistake in a cite et al example is adding a period after “et” as well as after “al,” producing “et. al.” That is incorrect, because only “al.” is abbreviated. Another common mistake is writing “et al” without any period, which looks unfinished and can lose marks. A third mistake is italicising “et al.” in APA or MLA when the style does not require it. Keep the phrase in plain lower-case text, with a single period after “al,” unless your local guide says otherwise.
Another frequent error in a cite et al example is using “et al.” for a two-author source. That hides an author unnecessarily and breaks the style rule. Similarly, some writers use “et al.” in the reference list for sources with only a few authors, where the style requires all names. Remember the division of labour: “et al.” shortens the in-text citation, while the reference list gives the full details.
Finally, in any cite et al example, watch for mismatch between in-text citations and reference entries. Every in-text citation should match a reference entry, and every reference entry should be cited in the text, unless your brief says otherwise. A quick final check, comparing the two lists name by name, catches most errors before submission. Reference management software can help, but it can also introduce errors, so proofread its output rather than trusting it blindly.
Cite Et Al Example: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I write a cite et al example in APA?
Use the first author’s surname, “et al.,” and the year, as in any cite et al example. Narrative form: Patel et al. (2021) found that spaced revision helped recall. Parenthetical form: spaced revision helped recall (Patel et al., 2021). For quotations, add the page number as well.
How do I write a cite et al example in MLA?
Use the first author’s surname, “et al.,” and the page number where available. Example: spaced revision helped recall (Patel et al. 45). MLA does not normally include the year in the in-text citation.
Do I use et al. for two authors?
No. For two authors, name both authors in every citation. Reserve “et al.” for sources with three or more authors, following the rules of your chosen style.
Does et al. need a period?
Yes, after “al” only: “et al.” The word “et” is complete and takes no period. The phrase is normally written in lower case and not italicised in APA and MLA.
Do I list all authors in the reference list?
Normally yes, up to the limit set by your style. APA lists up to twenty authors in a reference entry before using an ellipsis and the final author, while MLA lists the first author plus “et al.” only for very long author lists in the works-cited entry. Check your style guide for the exact limit.
Conclusion: Mastering the Cite Et Al Example
A correct cite et al example is a small skill with a large payoff. Once you know that “et al.” means “and others,” that it takes a period after “al” only, and that APA and MLA place it differently around years and page numbers, you can cite multi-author sources quickly and accurately. Keep the full author list in your references, use “et al.” only for three or more authors in the text, and check your department guide for any local variations. For more citation help, see our guides on APA citations with two authors, APA citations with multiple authors, and APA citations for websites. With those patterns in hand, your writing will look polished, your sources will be credited fairly, and your readers will always know where to find the full details.
