In MLA style, how you cite multiple authors in text depends on whether the source has two authors or three or more. Two-author sources list both last names every time, while sources with three or more authors use only the first author’s last name followed by “et al.” Here is exactly how to format each scenario, with examples you can follow.
Two Authors
When a source has two authors, include both last names joined by “and” every time you cite the work. This applies whether you place the names inside the parenthetical citation or weave them into your sentence.
Parenthetical example:
- The study found a strong correlation between sleep and academic performance (Johnson and Lee 45).
Narrative example (where you name the authors in the sentence itself):
- Johnson and Lee found a strong correlation between sleep and academic performance (45).
Notice that in the narrative version, the page number still goes in parentheses at the end. The period always comes after the closing parenthesis, not before it.
Three or More Authors
When a source has three or more authors, list only the first author’s last name followed by “et al.” (short for the Latin phrase “et alia,” meaning “and others”). This is a change from older MLA editions, which required listing up to three names. The current ninth edition simplifies it: regardless of whether there are three authors or fifteen, you use the same format.
Parenthetical example:
- Recent data suggest that remote learning outcomes vary widely by age group (Martinez et al. 112).
Narrative example:
- Martinez et al. suggest that remote learning outcomes vary widely by age group (112).
Note that “et al.” always has a period after “al” because it is an abbreviation, but there is no period after “et” because that is a complete Latin word. Do not italicize “et al.” in your citation.
Parenthetical vs. Narrative Placement
You have two options for placing any in-text citation, and both are equally correct. A parenthetical citation puts all the identifying information (author names and page number) inside the parentheses at the end of the clause or sentence. A narrative citation names the authors in the sentence itself and puts only the page number in parentheses.
Mixing the two styles throughout a paper is perfectly fine and actually makes your writing read more naturally. Use narrative citations when the authors’ names are relevant to the point you are making. Use parenthetical citations when you want the focus on the information rather than who wrote it.
One formatting detail: when you use a narrative citation with “et al.,” the phrase functions grammatically as a plural subject. So you would write “Garcia et al. argue” (not “argues”).
When Two Sources Share the Same First Author
If your Works Cited list includes two sources that would produce identical shortened citations, you need to add enough information to tell them apart. This comes up most often with “et al.” citations. For instance, if you cite a 2020 paper by Martinez, Chen, and Gupta and a 2022 paper by Martinez, Alvarez, and Kim, both would shorten to “Martinez et al.” and the reader could not tell which source you mean.
To fix this, include as many author names as needed to distinguish the two sources, then follow with “et al.” if additional names remain:
- (Martinez, Chen, et al. 112)
- (Martinez, Alvarez, et al. 78)
If the author lists are completely identical (the same group of people wrote both sources), add a shortened version of the title after the author information to differentiate them:
- (Martinez et al., “Remote Learning” 112)
- (Martinez et al., “Classroom Outcomes” 78)
Use quotation marks for article or chapter titles and italics for book or journal titles, matching however the work appears in your Works Cited list.
Corporate or Group Authors
When the author is an organization, government agency, or other group rather than individual people, use the group’s name in place of an author’s last name. If the name is long, you can abbreviate it in the parenthetical citation to keep the reference from disrupting the flow of your sentence. Common abbreviations work well here: “Nat’l” for National, “Dept.” for Department, and so on.
Parenthetical example:
- Exposure to lead paint remains a significant public health concern (Nat’l Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 4).
Narrative example:
- The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences reports that exposure to lead paint remains a significant public health concern (4).
When you name the organization in the sentence itself, spell out the full name rather than abbreviating. Abbreviations are a convenience for parenthetical citations only.
Sources Without Page Numbers
Many multi-author sources you encounter will be websites, online articles, or other digital works with no page numbers. In that case, simply omit the page number and use only the author information.
- (Johnson and Lee)
- (Martinez et al.)
Do not invent page numbers or use paragraph numbers unless the source itself numbers its paragraphs. If the source uses numbered sections, headings, or other divisions, you can include those as locators: (Martinez et al., sec. 3) or (Martinez et al., ch. 7). This helps your reader find the passage in a long document, which is the whole point of an in-text citation.
Quick Reference
- 1 author: (Smith 23)
- 2 authors: (Smith and Jones 23)
- 3+ authors: (Smith et al. 23)
- Corporate author: (Organization Name 23) or abbreviated
- No page number: Drop the number entirely
Your in-text citation should always point clearly to one entry on your Works Cited page. If you can look at a citation and match it to exactly one source, you have formatted it correctly.