Think of MLA’s “et al.” rule like a movie trailer. You don’t list every actor in the trailer; you just show the star and say “and the cast.” It keeps the energy moving. Your reader cares about the idea, not a roll call.
Also, imagine if you had to say “according to Johnson, Smith, Patel, Lee, and Kim” in every sentence. Your paragraph would look like a crowded elevator! No thanks. MLA lets you breathe.
The “No Author” Plot Twist
What if the source has no author at all? Like a random website or a report from a committee? Here, MLA says: use the title of the work instead. For example: (Global Warming Facts 12).
If it’s a short title, put it in quotes; if it’s a book or article, italicize it. It’s like the source is introducing itself at a party. A little awkward, but totally valid.
