Should et al. be italicized in MLA style?

Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook. For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook.

Only italicize et al., meaning “and others,” if it is referred to as a term, as the examples in this sentence and the question above show. In parenthetical citations and works-cited-list entries, the abbreviation should be set roman, as shown in the MLA Handbook (116, 22):

(Burdick et al. 42)

Burdick, Anne, et al. Digital_Humanities. MIT P, 2012.

Work Cited

MLA Handbook. 8th ed., Modern Language Association of America, 2016.