How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper summarizes current practice as using et al. How many authors should a paper have before its citation is shortened by using et al.? Journals differ widely in this respect, and the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene avoids the usage altogether, no matter how long a citation may run to. Essentially, the second word of the term et al takes on a ‘period’ (et al.) irrespective of whether it falls in the middle of a sentence. In citing such papers using the name-and-date system, also known as the Harvard system, a long string of names proves awkward-which is why most journals recommend the use of et al., which is Latin for et alii or et aliae and means “and others.”ĭespite gaining an understanding of the meaning of et al., authors are often still confused about how to write et al. It is rare for a single researcher to publish a paper all by herself or himself most research papers have several or many authors, and the average number of authors for a paper keeps rising as science becomes increasingly collaborative. Here I provide some simple guidelines that will help you remember how to use et al. Researchers writing their first research paper would have come across the term “et al.” in many research papers they’ve read, but they might not understand what it means or the nuances of et al usage. Although, readers might merely glance through the references section, it serves as their guide for further reading and research on similar topics, while simultaneously reflecting the extent of the author’s literature review.
Failure to meet these publication requirements could result in the author being penalized for plagiarism, the research paper being denied publication, and/or the author being barred from submitting to a particular publisher for a few years. Most researchers are concerned with how to write references mainly because ethical publication demands that authors provide an inclusive list of their sources.
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