Don’t use a comma before the “and” in a two-author citation—that’s a classic rookie mistake. For three authors, use commas between all names, then “and” before the last. Example: Lee, Kim, and Patel—yes, that comma before “and” is required and beautiful.
Watch your periods and italics. The author names are in plain text, but the book title is italicized. If you’re citing a journal article, put the article title in quotes and the journal name in italics. It’s like dressing for a formal event: plain suit, posh tie.
Books With Editors and Multiple Authors - KISJ MS Library - LibGuides
Fun Little Fact: The Origin of “et al.”
The phrase “et al.” dates back to 17th-century academic writing, when scholars wanted to avoid listing every contributor to a scientific discovery. Today, it’s a gift for lazy writers—but use it wisely. Overusing it might suggest you’re hiding the “B-team” of authors who did the real work.
In pop culture, the term appears in Harry Potter fan theories about the Marauders’ Map. “Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs et al.” would technically mean “and others,” which includes Peter Pettigrew’s less famous sidekicks.
