Et al. Punctuation
Et al. means “and others” and is common in formal citation contexts. This guide treats the period as part of the abbreviation while keeping comma placement scoped to the relevant citation or editorial style.
Write et al. with a period after “al.” Comma placement is not automatic in every context; follow the citation or editorial style required for the document.
Key details
Important caveats
Comma Boundary
MLA guidance shows that a comma before et al. is context-dependent rather than automatic; follow the citation/style system and the structure of the name or sentence.
Further guidance
Form
Write “et al.” with a period after “al.” because that element is abbreviated.
Meaning
Et al. is used after a name to indicate additional people and comes from a Latin expression meaning “and others.”
Practical Application
Write “et al.” with a period after “al.” Then apply commas and surrounding citation punctuation according to the governing style rather than adding a comma automatically after the abbreviation.
Reader Check
Which citation or editorial style governs the punctuation around “et al.” in this document?
Worked Example
In a style that uses narrative author-date citations, format the author phrase exactly as that style specifies while retaining the period in “al.”
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- ET AL. — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · et al. abbreviation meaning “and others” in formal citation-style writing
- Do I use a comma with et al.? — MLA Style Center (opens in a new tab)Modern Language Association · MLA guidance on context-dependent comma placement with et al. in names and references