Fertilizer and other agricultural waste pouring into the Gulf of Mexico creates a larger and larger patch of lifeless ocean each year. Finally, the EPA has a plan of attack. Is it enough?
The abbreviation et al. means and others. It is most often used when a work you are citing in your paper has multiple authors. When a work has two authors, cite both names every time the reference occurs in the text.
i.e. means that is, being the English translation of the latin id est. e.g. means for example, being the English translation of the latin exempli gratia. cf. means compare with or consult, being short for confer. et al. means and others, being the English translation of the latin et alia or et alii.