et al

et al

is an abbreviation of Latin et alii (= and other people) or et alia (= and other things), and is used to avoid listing a long sequence of names, only the first or the first few being given, as in Smith, Jones, et al. It is regularly used in bibliographical citation for works having several authors, and is printed in roman or italic type according to the particular style in use. It is appropriately used for references to people; for other categories etc. is preferable.