i.e. vs. e.g.: Grammar Guide
By Robin
e.g.
The term e.g. means "exempli gratia" in Latin or "for example" in English. Simply replace "e.g." with "for example" to check your usage. Remember, your list of examples is not presumed complete.
- I love to read a variety of genres, e.g., historical non-fiction, mystery and poetry.
- She is the captain of many clubs, (e.g., chess, leadership and newspaper are among her favorites.) If you choose, parenthesis can be used like in the above example.
i.e.
The term i.e. means "id est" in Latin or "that is" in English. A trick that I use: If you can replace "i.e." with "in other words" then you are using it correctly. "I.e." is used to specify what you are trying to convey.
- We will have caramel corn, roasted pumpkin seeds, witches' brew and ghost cookies on this spooky night, i.e., Halloween.
- The greatest basketball team of all-time, i.e., the 1987 Los Angeles Lakers, started Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Byron Scott, Kareem Abdul-Jabar and A.C. Green.
Remember...
- Use a period after each letter because they are abbreviations.
- Use a comma after the abbreviations.
- Use a comma before the abbreviations unless it's the beginning of a sentence
- You may begin a sentence with "i.e." and "e.g.". (You still need to use a comma after the abbreviation.)
- You may use "i.e." and "e.g." in parenthesis. (You still need to use a comma after the abbreviation.)
- You may use "i.e." and "e.g." within a sentence without parenthesis. Remember to precede and follow with a comma.
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Questions, Comments or Thoughts?
I think the details like this are slowly leeching out of the English language. Thanks for doing your part to preserve it. ;)
You are so right, wreddd! Gotta love James!
Very informational... however the 2nd example for "i.e." is factually incorrect. That Lakers team started James Worthy. Michael Cooper came off of the bench. :-)
I found it useful and I often mix them up.
Thanks:D
there should be a comma in this paragraph at the end of the list between (witches' brew and ghost cookies...) "We will have caramel corn, roasted pumpkin seeds, witches' brew, and ghost cookies on this spooky night, i.e., Halloween" ^
Hi,Guys! Im Brazilian and my english teacher thought me that "e.g" means "example given". I think the english meaning is easier to memorize than the latin meaning.
As an explanation of my earlier comment:
Placing comma or semicolon after either one of these abbreviations does not make sense.
Dear Robin,
NEITHER ONE OF THESE ABBREVIATIONS IS FOLLOWED BY PUNCTUATION, IT JUST WOULDN'T MAKE SENSE.
In response to some of the other comments,
1. Neither one of these abbreviations is used to start a sentence, that also wouldn't make sense. However the only time either could appear at the start of a sentence is if someone were describing them. In that case the first of the letters would get capitalized; but in order to avoid confusion the entire abbreviation would be surrounded by quotation marks.
2. One writes these abbreviations but pronounces them (when used in English texts) “in other words” and “for example”.
3. In very formal (and perhaps in British version of English) these abbreviations are italicised.
Interesting article, thanks for writing it.
I have a suggestion on the look of the article, though; I've never tried to write something using hubpages, so my suggestion may not be possible.
Is there any way that you could place the definition for "i.e." in a colored column, as you did with "e.g.". Since a colored column, that has been floated to the right or the left, often indicates interesting but non-crucial information, the first time I read the article I read all the way to the bottom before reading the text in the blue column, which was kind of confusing. If you made the definition for "i.e." a colored column as well (probably a using a slightly-different color), I think it would make it more obvious where the two definitions are, and better show that the two are being contrasted.
Just a suggestion; you are of course free to take it or leave it :)
-wyrmmage
I thought you had to underline these types of abbreviations when used in writing. I always have when i have used them.
That should be, "what you're trying to convey"
Good brush up!
hello
i am writing a book. i am having some trouble finding more words to say rather than : shouted, muttered, snapped ,said, sniffed ...
can anyone help me? please let me know thanx :)
Hi Robin! Great site! I was wondering if you could make a hub or something about "is"/"are"? That is something I usually have to think twice about.
Very cute picture btw =)
/FZ from Sweden
This is great information. I happened to already know this, but I am so glad you are out here, providing us with useful, grammatical, clarity. Believe me - the world needs it! Thanks again! I look forward to reading more HUBS from you -
I finally understood this whole i.e. e.g. meaning....Thanks.
Robin, the statement which reads, "If you choose, parenthesis can be used like in the above example" is grammatically incorrect. Replace the word "like" with "as" in order to correct it.
Sorry to join in so late. If one were to use "i.e." at the start of a sentence, would it be capitalized, as in "I.e."? If not, why? Also, can the term be used to start a paragraph? You need a preceeding idea in order for it have a point of reference to the conversation. I ask because my College professor is using it (with only one period and no comma, by the way,) in a point form resumee. The resumee lists the former place of employment and then lists the job duties on the next line starting with "ie.". e.g.,
1999-2000
Druxy's Bar
ie. served cold drinks
Did I use "e.g." correctly there?
This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks so much - Paul
I have found your grammar articles quite informative. I'm hoping you could do one for "A vs An". I've had disagreements with others on how this should be used, specifically when preceding acronyms that start with consonants yet start with a vowel sound (S comes to mind).
Hey Robin! This is your cousin Alicia! I found your hubpage last year after Paul told us about it... This is awesome! I'm doing a project today in my 9th grade English class on common errors and I think I'll use this one. I love your Grammar Mishaps! I'll be sure to check them again.
Love ya! (ps-- your pic looks just like a younger version of my mom!)
Nice hub. You sure stirred up a hornets nest. Most of us have trouble with this type of grammatical stickler. But the one that bothers me most is the frequent misuse of "then" and "than," -- and they're entirely two different words.
Thank you Robin,
You clarified just about everything about the grammar as well as why they are so easy to mix up! I.e. is translated as "that is", but it would be so much easier if it is translated as "in other words".Especially to us speaking english as a second language.
Thanks!Dennis P
Good post, i.e., I enjoyed it.
Finally, I understand the difference. Thank you very much for this explanation.
Brilliant, well explained.
thanks for the grammer lesson... learn something new every day :)
Wow, this is a lot of comments and i agree with everybody i.e., you're fantastic. Please keep it up and you've helped so much i.g., you've cofirmed so many grammar mistakes in my office of 100+ employees. Thanks again and again......and again because i know i'm going to use the hub again. Regards, Brian
I have a question about the example, listed below, from this page. In this example, since the e.g. is used within parenthesis, does that not make the comma after clubs obsolete? She is the captain of many clubs, (e.g., chess, leadership and newspaper are among her favorites.) If you choose, parenthesis can be used like in the above example.
Neat! I just discovered HubPages and I'm already learning things.
Hope to learn more. You have a good post that I find useful. Keep it up!
Robin,First, We "shall", not "will"
Dale, I do agree with you.
I also have a problem with the use of Text Messages. I am hearing more and more pre-teens and teens speaking in Text Message Jargon. I would like to be a fly on the wall when these young people attempt to write an essay or go for an interview with such limited verbal skills. I though Ebonics was the "language" to end us all, but by gosh, give it time, and someone or something is always around the corner to blow us out of the water once again!
I was a pre-teen in the 50's and Sweet Sixteen in the 60's. I dare say, there are very few reading this posting that ever heard of BeatSpeak, used in Coffee Houses of the era! We actually had a little book or Dictionary, you could order, providing a listing of the Cool Words of the day.
This helped, thanks!
Wow, I'm learning something new everyday. Thanks again, Robin
Thanks for the comment, Spence. I like that tip. I always think: i.e. = in other words (starting with "i"); and e.g. = example (starting with "e").
I invented the following mnemonic device for myself to remember which to use:
i.e. = idea expanded
e.g. = example(s) given
It's not perfect since i.e. is often restating what's been said rather than expanding on it, but it works really well for me to remember which is which.
I never KNEW this. Damn, I've come across as an illiterate. :(
:D
Absolutely BRILLIANT!
I never new this. At least not to this detail.
Thanks, Lincoln, Erick and Kaiya! I'm a teacher and my father-in-law was a English teacher and has given me many tips. I guess I'm just intrigued by grammar. Cheers!
Hi Dale,
No problem; grammar seems to evoke many disagreements. ;) I also do not prefer using "i.e." and "e.g." in speech; however, I haven't found this as a rule. Looking back at my example, I think you're right that it would be preferable to not start a sentence with "e.g." or "i.e.". I'm not sure if this is a distinctive rule, or just a preference, but I think I'll change it. Thanks!!
Robin, sorry to have to disagree with you on using "i.e." in conversation.
I should also point out that it is preferable not to begin a sentence with the abbreviation. This follows along the same line as starting a sentence with numbers, in which case it is correct to begin with the written number, as in this example: "Eighteen players attended." Not, "18 players attended." The same rule applies to "i.e." or e.g."
Good, simple defintions.
Now, if we could just get people to remove "i.e." from their speech! The abbreviation is meant for written use, not spoken. It does not make one sound more intelligent by using the term in conversation. In fact, saying "ayeee" is not even more practical since it is just as easy, and preferable, to say "that is" when this phrase is needed. Unfortunately, even nationally-recognized broadcasters are guily of this spoken-word gaffe.
And don't even get me started on the overuse and misuse of the adjective "incredible."
Thanks, Robin!
Hi Val,It's fine to say "i.e." and "e.g." in conversation, but I would prefer "in other words" and "for example". The former sound a bit pretentious in casual conversation. Thanks for the question.
I use i.e./e.g. as appropriate when writing. But, is it proper to actually SAY "i.e." or "e.g" when conversing?
Thanks for the feedback!! So glad it's useful!
I'm writing a paper, it is helpful to find out that a following comma is necessary. Thanks a lot.
exactly what i needed. :) thanks
Glad it helped Monique and Andrew! Cheers!
Thanks for the great assistance with my english grammer.
this is great! I can't believe I never knew this! I have been using them interchangeably
I'm glad it helped, Sam. I feel like an idiot when dealing with my dog; so I guess we're even. ;)
I feel like an idiot, because I misuse this all the time in my writing! Thanks for the help!
Ha Ha, I think it's probably best left unsaid. ;)
Now if you could only tell me how to kindly tell my boss to stop using ie instead of eg. :S
Thanks!
It is definitely okay to make up words, especially if they're funny!
Oh my gosh. I have been misusing "i.e." since birth. I feel dumber by the minute, reading your hubs! ;) (Speaking of, is "dumber" a word? Subquestion-- is it okay to make up words?)
I agree, "in other words" with the "i" and "for example" with the "e" help me remember too. ;)
I like your "in other words" test, especially since it begins with i. Grammar and I don't get along too well! I slept through those years.
Thanks, Robin, for doing this Hub. I think I can remember "that is" for i.e. and "for example" for e.g.
Robin 3 months ago
Thanks, Maddie. I agree, it's very sad. ;)