Post AXFmyThdTDACXB2CYK by waltman@hachyderm.io
 (DIR) More posts by waltman@hachyderm.io
 (DIR) Post #AXFmyThdTDACXB2CYK by waltman@hachyderm.io
       2023-07-01T12:33:49Z
       
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       @grammargirl I just listened to this week’s podcast and I have a couple of things to add about "et al.”. First, I'm also in academia, and one thing I've heard people say instead of “and others" is "and colleagues". I think I like that better, especially in non-academic settings like podcasts.Also, what are your thoughts on whether “et al." should be in italics? My postdoc advisor did that, and it always looked wrong to me. (He also italicized "etc.”, which looks even more wrong!)
       
 (DIR) Post #AXFmyUT8cbA2uVG8au by grammargirl@zirk.us
       2023-07-01T14:51:25Z
       
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       @waltman Yes, it makes sense to just say "and others" or "and colleagues," especially outside academic contexts. I would likely say "around" instead of "circa" too.And "et al." doesn't typically get italicized. Chicago doesn't recommend it, for example.Your advisor probably did it because it is a foreign word, but when foreign words are used widely in English, we don't italicize them.Thanks for listening!
       
 (DIR) Post #AXGDg0cfY2rhtT84jQ by waltman@hachyderm.io
       2023-07-01T19:50:27Z
       
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       @grammargirl That's certainly the rule I learned about foreign words. I think it might have been a house style at some publications, but I'm not sure. Mostly I figured since it was his lab, I'd let him set the rules. Gotta pick your battles!