Random grammarnazi entry

If the growing number of examples I've started noticing is any indication, et al. seems to be regarded lately as the more educated-sounding equivalent of etc. Quick lesson:

Et cetera ("and the rest") is used to refer to objects; e.g., "Hurricanes, landslides, tsunamis, etc."
Et alia ("and others") is used to refer to people; e.g., "Gilligan, the skipper, a millionaire and his wife, a movie star, et al."

Note also that etc., and al. in et al., are abbreviations and periods should be used as shown if you wish to be annoyingly korrect. Stay tuned for a future discussions on exempli gratia vs. id est, and the incompatibility of etc. with e.g.

Love and kisses, ab imo pectore,
Intarweb Grammar Nazi