MS word not adding the "and" or "&" between the last two authors [solved]

carlkru · 2025-12-23T09:28:22+00:00

Hi everyone

I am using the AMBIO referencing style: author-date citation, and has the "and" between the last two authors (in both the citation and bibliography).

However, in my MS Word documents, the "and" never shows up.

Things I have already tried:
I tried using a lot of different referencing styles (African Zoology; Ageing and Society, Australian J of Zoology...) that should all have the "and" or the "&", but none are showing up in my Word documents. Everything else seems correct.
I tried updating Zotero.
I closed all programs and reopened them.
I checked the Style Editor, and the "and" should be showing up.

Windows 11 and MS Office 2024. Any ideas?

Regards
CK

damnation · 2025-12-23T10:58:35+00:00

Where are you selecting the citation style?
Note this is done in a given document, under Zotero's "Document Preferences".

carlkru · 2025-12-23T11:57:07+00:00

Yes, under the Zotero app settings, I go to "Get additional styles". Once I have the new style, I select it under the Zotero "document preferences" in MS Word. Whenever I change a style, everything does change, but I can never get the "and" between the last two authors.

carlkru · 2025-12-23T12:00:48+00:00

https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u1584473/1e3ope7ik2cn1t3cn4a9.png

carlkru · 2025-12-23T12:02:44+00:00

The left of the image is what the Zotero Style repository shows. On the right is what I get in MS Word. Both are on AMBIO.
Note that there are some other differences too, like the extra commas between author initials...??
Also, it just shows the first author in the citations. No "and" for two authors and no "et al." for more. Also, an occasional semicolon between authors in the bibliography. What on earth is happening?

carlkru · 2025-12-23T12:07:22+00:00

.

adamsmith · 2025-12-23T13:33:47+00:00

What happens if you create an AMBIO bibliography directly from Zotero via right-click --> create bibliography? Do you get the right format then?

carlkru · 2025-12-23T13:48:27+00:00

Ah, I didn't know you could do that. But still the same result.
I might need to reinstall Word? :0

adamsmith · 2025-12-23T14:00:02+00:00

No, Word isn't the problem. I'd start by uninstalling the AMBIO style and reinstalling it.
Could you also paste one of the citations you have above in APA style here?

damnation · 2025-12-23T14:41:42+00:00

No need for uninstalling/reinstalling everything. Can you also post a screenshot from a problematic entry in Zotero?
(note that you can edit posts here in case you want to add information and avoid double posting)

adamsmith · 2025-12-23T15:10:02+00:00

Just to be clear on re-installing: re-installing a citation style is super quick and worthwhile trying.
Don't bother trying to re-install entire software like Word or Zotero.

damnation · 2025-12-23T15:17:33+00:00

Sorry, yeah, I meant the software, not a given style.

carlkru · 2025-12-24T06:32:27+00:00

Yes, MS Word does not seem to be the problem. The difference is even seen between the Style Search and the Style Preview inside Zotero. No change when deleting and reinstallling AMBIO. Actually, the same error is seen in APA and others as well. Screenshot of APA:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u1584473/m6kersumc5ak3coe2q5b.png

carlkru · 2025-12-24T06:35:14+00:00

Hold on, if I try to use some of the Zotero example references, the "and" and "et al." are correct!?! Is there a problem with my references per se?
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u1584473/k47zrg7qfg6okrh8t8lw.png

carlkru · 2025-12-24T08:40:19+00:00

I think I fugured it out. The reference library I was trying to use was imported from a csv file that was probably not formatted correctly. When I use a library that I personally created everything seems correct.
Thank you for all you help! :)
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u1584473/iqmt9ntkzy25ov4y2sxu.png

damnation · 2025-12-24T13:39:18+00:00

Please try to avoid making several posts and edit a given post if you want to add information, as pointed out.

The preview has nothing to do with this. No need for further pictures of that as we know what the style looks like.
Please send a picture of a problematic citation from within Zotero. We want to see how you have entered the metadata as that's a potential source of the problem.

carlkru · 2025-12-27T12:53:05+00:00

It looks like I imported the authors together with the commas and other punctuation:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u1584473/5x5bsccp0dy5g1xdplen.png

damnation · 2025-12-27T13:01:56+00:00

Well, there you go. Gotta separate them out.

carlkru · 2025-12-27T14:01:04+00:00

Thank you all for the suggestions. I appreciate your time.