This is where MLA finally throws you a bone. Got four or more authors? You get to use the magical Latin-shorthand: et al. It means “and others,” and it sounds incredibly sophisticated when you whisper it at dinner parties.
Mla Citation Format Multiple Authors - Design Talk
In your in-text citation, just write the first author’s last name, then “et al.” and the page number: “(Gates et al. 101).” That’s it. No commas, no tears, no chanting ancient spells. The et al. is your new best friend. It’s like hiring a bouncer to handle the author crowd.
But here’s the catch: in the works cited, you still list the first author’s name (reversed), followed by “et al.” No need to list all 47 authors unless they’re paying your rent. Why? Because MLA realized nobody wants to type “Dr. Smith, Dr. Jones, Dr. Patel, and 14 grad students nobody remembers.”
The Et Al. Etiquette
There’s a surprising fact that will make you feel like a citation wizard: “et al.” doesn’t get a period after “al.” Wait, yes it does—MLA style uses a period: “et al.” because it’s an abbreviation. Always the period. But don’t put a period after “et” because that’s not an abbreviation—it’s the Latin word for “and.” So it’s “et al.” with a space and a period, not “et. al.” If you screw this up, a Roman emperor might haunt your citations.
And never, ever put a comma before “et al.” unless you want MLA ninjas to kick down your door. Example: “(Gates et al. 12)” is correct. “(Gates, et al. 12)” is the citation equivalent of wearing socks with sandals. Don’t do it.
