Imagine you’re telling your barista, “My friends and I loved this new cold brew.” You don’t name all six of them every time. You say, “My group.” MLA works the same way.
For two authors, you still name both. Always. Example: “(Johnson and Lee 22).” It’s like saying, “Sarah and Tom ordered the same latte.” Two names? Use them both. No shortcuts.
For three or more? Et al. is your friend. It’s the polite way of saying, “You know, the whole gang.” Your reader gets it. Your citation stays clean.
