Use of et al. in APA Style: A Complete Guide for Students and Researchers
The abbreviation *et al.And * keeps in‑text citations concise, helps readers locate the full reference, and maintains the scholarly tone required in psychology, education, social sciences, and many other disciplines. Also, *—derived from the Latin phrase et alia meaning “and others”—is a cornerstone of APA (American Psychological Association) citation practice. Properly applying *et al.And this article explains when and how to use *et al. * according to the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual, highlights common pitfalls, and provides clear examples you can adapt to your own writing.
People argue about this. Here's where I land on it.
What Does et al. Mean in APA?
Et al. stands for “and others.” In APA style it replaces the names of all but the first author when a source has three or more contributors. The abbreviation is not italicized, and it is followed by a period because it is considered a contraction No workaround needed..
Key point: et al. signals that additional authors exist without listing each name, thereby reducing clutter in the narrative while preserving attribution But it adds up..
APA Guidelines for In‑Text Citations
1. Two‑Author Works
When a source has exactly two authors, both names must be cited every time. Et al. is never used Turns out it matters..
- (Smith & Jones, 2020)
- Smith and Jones (2020) found that…
2. Three or More Authors
For works with three or more authors, cite only the first author’s surname followed by et al. and the year, starting from the first citation.
- First citation: (Taylor et al., 2021)
- Narrative: Taylor et al. (2021) argue that…
3. Six or More Authors (APA 6th vs. 7th)
Under the 6th edition, sources with six or more authors used et al. from the first citation. The 7th edition simplified the rule: the three‑or‑more guideline now applies universally, so you do not need to count to six. Even so, if you are following an older style guide or a journal that still requires the six‑author threshold, apply et al. after the first author when the list reaches six Not complicated — just consistent..
4. Same Year, Same First Author
If you have multiple references where the first author and year are identical (e.g., two 2020 papers by Smith et al.), you must add enough names to distinguish them.
- (Smith, Lee, et al., 2020) vs. (Smith, Patel, et al., 2020)
In practice, list as many subsequent authors as needed to make the citation unique, then add et al..
5. Group Authors
When the author is an organization, corporation, or government body, treat it as a single author. Do not use et al.; instead, give the full group name on first use and optionally define an abbreviation thereafter Most people skip this — try not to..
- First citation: (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 2022)
- Subsequent: (NIMH, 2022)
Formatting Rules for et al.
| Element | Correct Form | Incorrect Form |
|---|---|---|
| Spacing | One space after the period in et al. (capitalized) | |
| Italics | Not italicized | *et al.Here's the thing — * (no comma when required) |
| Capitalization | Lowercase *et al. * unless it begins a sentence | *Et al.That's why * |
| Punctuation | *et al. *, (comma after if part of a parenthetical) | et al. (italicized) |
| Period | Always a period after *al. |
Example in a parenthetical citation:
(Johnson et al., 2019)
Example in a narrative citation:
Johnson et al. (2019) demonstrated that…
Reference List Entries
The reference list always includes all authors (up to 20). In real terms, *Et al. For 21 or more authors, list the first 19, insert an ellipsis (…), then the final author’s name. * never appears in the reference list Worth knowing..
-
2–20 authors:
Smith, J. A., Lee, B. C., Patel, D. R., & Gomez, M. L. (2021). Title of article. Journal Name, 15(3), 123‑145. https://doi.org/xx.xxx/yyyy -
21+ authors:
Brown, T. K., Chen, L., Davis, P., Evans, R., build, S., Greene, H., Hall, J., Ingram, K., James, L., King, M., Lewis, N., Miller, O., Nelson, P., Owens, Q., Patel, R., Quinn, S., Reed, T., Scott, U., … Zhao, Y. (2020). Long‑author study. Annual Review of Psychology, 71, 456‑478. https://doi.org/xx.xxx/yyyy
Notice that the reference list shows every name (or the ellipsis shortcut) but never the abbreviation et al. Easy to understand, harder to ignore. Took long enough..
Special Cases and Nuances
a. Citing Multiple Works in One Parentheses
When you cite several sources together, order them alphabetically (or chronologically if required) and separate each with a semicolon. Apply the et al. rule to each entry individually.
- (Adams et al., 2018; Brown & Clark, 2019; Davis et al., 2020)
b. Secondary Citations (Citing a Source Cited in Another Work)
Use “as cited in” and apply et al. to the original work if it has three or more authors Simple, but easy to overlook..
- Original: (Taylor et al., 2017)
- As cited: (Taylor et al., 2017, as cited in Martinez, 2021)
c. Legal Documents, Reports, and Gray Literature
Government reports often list an agency as the author. If the report lists multiple individuals (e.g., a committee), follow the same three‑or‑more rule. If the author is a corporate entity, treat it as a single author and do not use et al.
