Et al grammar

Question

writing writing academic articles with 'et al' should it be referred to as singular or plural? For example would you say 'Johnson et al argue' or 'Johnson et al argues..'?

Fivejedjon · Accepted Answer

Anonymous'Johnson et al argue'

That's what I use.

Mister Micawber · Answer

You could use either, depending upon whether you are thinking of the several authors or the single book.

Cool Breeze · Answer

fivejedjon Anonymous'Johnson et al argue'That's what I use.

The abbreviation comes from a Latin plural. Of course this doesn't necessarily mean that in another language, English, the singular can't be used. People commonly say media is, for example. (I don't!

)

et aliae (feminine)
et alii (masculine)
et alia (neuter)

CB

Fivejedjon · Answer

Mister MicawberYou could use either, depending upon whether you are thinking of the several authors or the single book.

I wondered about that, but while I can say, thinking of the book, Huddleston and Pullum is a worthy successor to Quirk et al, though Quirk et al is the grammar I still consult first, or Quirk et al has been my standby for thirty years, I can use only a plural verb-form for such verbs as say, argue, maintain, etc, which make me think of the people.

Mister Micawber · Answer

Cool Breezeet alia (neuter)

Which means that it can also be used of things:

I like tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, et al.

Mister Micawber · Answer

fivejedjona plural verb-form for such verbs as say, argue, maintain, etc, which make me think of the people.

Yes, that is a strong notional draw.

Clive · Answer

Johnson et al = Johnson and others = Johnson and other people

plural.

Clive

Et al grammar

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