You might think, “If two authors get an ‘and,’ three authors must get three names, right?” Wrong! For three or more authors, you use the first author’s name plus “et al.” That’s Latin for “and others.” Example: (Smith et al. 42).
Funny detail: “et al.” is short for “et alii,” which sounds like a fancy pasta dish. “I’ll have the et alii with marinara, please.” No one knows how to pronounce it, so just say “et all” and fake it.
75 Mla Citation Example Multiple Authors
Two Authors, Same Last Name? Welcome to Chaos
If both authors are named Smith, you can’t just write “Smith and Smith (42).” That’s confusing for everyone (including the Smiths). Instead, add their first initials: (J. Smith and A. Smith 42). Or spell out their first names if you’re feeling generous.
Bonus trivia: There’s a real academic paper written by two authors both named “John Smith.” Their citation looks like a riddle. “Smith and Smith (2019).” Which Smith? Yes.
