Definition

1. Adverb:
   • And others: "et alii" is a Latin phrase used in English academic and formal writing to indicate that there are additional authors, people, or items beyond those named. It is almost exclusively used in its abbreviated form, "et al."

Usage

• Primary Use: The term is used in citations, references, and bibliographies to shorten a list of names, particularly when a work has many authors.
• Important Note: The abbreviation "et al." is standard. Writing out the full phrase "et alii" is very rare in modern English usage. The abbreviation is not followed by a period after "et" (as "et" is a complete word) but is followed by a period after "al." (the abbreviation for "alii," "aliae," or "alia").

Examples

• In Academic Citations:

Advanced Usage

• Grammar and Style: While "et alii" is masculine plural, the abbreviation "et al." is considered gender-neutral and standard for all contexts in English. It is typically italicized in formal writing because it is a foreign phrase.
• Punctuation: In a sentence, a comma usually precedes "et al." when it follows a list of one or more names.

Variants and Related Words

• et al. (adv.): The standard abbreviation for "et alii" and its related forms ("et aliae" for feminine plural, "et alia" for neuter plural).
• et cetera (etc.): A different Latin abbreviation meaning "and the rest" or "and so forth," used for things, not people.

Synonyms

• and colleagues: Often used in less formal academic contexts.
• and co-authors: Specifically used when referring to the other writers of a publication.
• and others: The direct English translation.

Important Notes

• Not a Phrasal Verb or Idiom: "Et alii" is a borrowed Latin phrase, not an English phrasal verb or idiom.
• Avoid in Non-Academic Text: This term is highly specialized for scholarly, legal, or formal bibliographical contexts. It is not used in everyday conversation or general writing.

Adverb

1. and others ('et al.' is used as an abbreviation of `et alii' (masculine plural) or `et aliae' (feminine plural) or `et alia' (neuter plural) when referring to a number of people)
   • the data reported by Smith et al.