What does ET AL mean - exact definition please? and when is it best to use?

Answer 1

The expression 'et al.' is a specialized abbreviation for Latin 'et alli (=and other people). It is used adverbially after a name or a list of names to indicate that other people are also involved. Note the period after 'al', it is part of the spelling.

Example : The method is described in an article by Feynman et al. (= and other writers)

Answer 2

Et Al Definition

Answer 3

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Unfortunately, there are still pockets of confused individuals known as YECs (Young Earth Creationists). The Bible concerns our SPIRITUAL relationship to God -- NOT our physical development. Therefore, the "conflict" between science and faith is one that the "creationists" instigated on their own (which is ironic). Darwin did not "inadvertently prove the Bible false" -- he reported on his observations regarding the natural world, and enlightened us as to the process of adaptation/natural selection/evolution. The majority of Christians, Jews and people of a wide variety of other faiths have no problems at all seeing how science actually reveals God's power at work in the universe. The problem with "creationists"/biblical "literalists" stems from a complete misreading of Genesis. The ancient allegories in Genesis 1 - 11 were never meant to be read as exact histories, and certainly never as science texts! This has been well documented by respected theologians such as Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, as well as the respected rabbi, Maimonedes. The Bible actually never addresses the age of the Earth or the Universe, and the Hebrew word "yom" which can mean a typical "day" ALSO means "period of time". This is the correct definition to use for Genesis. The overwhelming majority of Christians (and Jews) know that the earliest books of Genesis were handed down from generation to generation by oral tradition, before the Hebrew people developed a system of Phoenician writing, around 1000 BCE. The YEC's are a part of the American fundamentalist movement, (a mostly Southern phenomenon) & are a fairly recent development. Their views run contrary to all true Biblical scholarship. Those who profess to take the Old Testament "literally" without even bothering to research the Exegesis and Hermeneutics only publicly display their ignorance, and manage to make all Christians appear delusional in the process. Thankfully, their numbers are dwindling, but even one is too many!

Answer 4

It means "and others" - it's usually used in legal cases like Smith v. Smith et al.

Answer 5

Like the others said - "and others". I see it most in citations (this article written by Jones, et al.) It is generally used in writing to shorten your citation, including for lawsuits. You name the main author or claimant and use et al. to signify that others contributed, also.

See the MLA or APA guides for citations.

Answer 6

Used similarly to et cetera ("and the rest"), to stand for a list of names. Ali is actually masculine, so it can be used for men, or groups of men and women; the feminine, et aliae, is appropriate when the "others" are all female, and the neuter, et alia ("and other things"), is also common. APA style suggests that et alii may be used if the work cited was written by more than six authors; MLA style suggests that only three are necessary.

Answer 7

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What does ET AL mean - exact definition please? and when is it best to use?

Answer 8

It literally means.."an others" or "and the rest".. It is of course.. from latin. I do use it all the time and particularly when I am writing a letter to a business.. I might say Dear Mr. Jones, et al

Meaning Dear Mr. Jones and to the rest of his staff

Answer 9

It is Latin for and others. It is used most often in legal cases such as laws suits. Although it is used i publishing, too, when there are too many editors to name individually.

Answer 10

It means 'and others' and I saw it used in both informal and formal context, but more often in formal speech.