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The abbreviations "i.e." and "e.g." are commonly misused. Many people do not know what they stand for, or even what their true meanings are. This article will improve your understanding of these abbreviations and their proper use.
Steps
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Understand what the abbreviations stand for. "i.e." is an abbreviation of the Latin words id est , which means "that is". "e.g." is an abbreviation for the Latin words exempli gratia , which means "for the sake of example". [1] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source
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Associate each abbreviation with more easily remembered phrases. It may be difficult to memorize Latin words, so pretending that "i.e." stands for "in essence" or "in other words", and "e.g." stands for "example given" can help.Advertisement
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Use creative mnemonic devices. Sometimes, not even associating the abbreviation with another phrase helps. If you’re still having trouble, try using more creative mnemonic solutions, such as associating i.e. with “I explain” or e.g. with “egg sample” (which sounds like "example"). [2] X Research source
- You could also try memorizing a bizarre example sentence using the correct abbreviation, such as “The best way to drive unicorns out of your neighborhood is to play them loud Baroque classical music (i.e., complicated classical music composed between 1600-1750).” [3] X Research source
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Use "i.e." to paraphrase. Make a statement, then add "i.e." to explain, specify, or describe what you just said in another way:
- The elephant is a pachyderm, i.e., a large animal with thick skin and nails on feet resembling hooves.
- I went to my least favorite place (i.e., the dentist).
- Note that what follows "i.e." is often a further explanation. This can also be a metaphor . If you substitute "i.e." with "in other words" the sentences still make sense. If you plug in "for example" they do not.
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Use "e.g." before giving one or more examples. Think of what precedes "e.g." as a category, and what follows it as something (or a few things) that would fall into that category (but not everything in that category):
- Buy some vegetables, e.g., carrots.
- I like power metal (e.g., Firewind, Iced Earth, Sonata Arctica).
- Observe how using "i.e." wouldn't make sense in these examples. "Carrots" is not another way to describe vegetables in general, it is just one of the many foods that are considered to be vegetables. If you wanted to use "i.e." you would write "Buy some vegetables, i.e., the edible part of any plant." Likewise, the bands given are examples of power metal, but not a description. If you were using "i.e." you would write something like "I like power metal, i.e., fast metal with symphonic elements and epic themes."
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Use e.g. and i.e. in short comments. It’s common to use the abbreviations e.g. and i.e. when adding a parenthetical statement, such as a clarification or explanation. However, if the clarification or explanation is part of the main sentence, spell out the phrase that is appropriate to your meaning instead.
- For example, if you’re writing a paper and want to provide some examples of sources that argue a particular point, use e.g.: “Some studies (e.g., Smith, 2015; Yao, 1999) support this assertion, while others -- for example, Abdullah’s (2013) research on pizza and topping choice -- disagree.”
- Use i.e. to provide short clarifications and a phrase to provide longer or more detailed clarifications: “In our research we altered the order of image display (i.e., first, second, or third) as well as their color scheme, that is, whether we had applied a blue or green filter.”
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Consider your audience. Substantial confusion exists surrounding i.e. and e.g., even amongst highly educated readers. If you think that your readers may not understand what the abbreviation is used to signal, skip it and use a clarifying phrase instead. [4] X Research source
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Italicize only if specifically asked. It’s common for English speakers to see Latin words and phrases italicized, such as in medias res (“in the middle of things”) or in loco parentis (“in the place of a parent”). However, Latin words and phrases that have entered common usage are usually not italicized -- including i.e. and e.g. [5] X Research source
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Use parentheses or commas with both. To indicate a separate clause, you can either insert a comma before "i.e." or "e.g." or you can use parentheses, both of which are shown in the examples above. If you use parentheses, open them right before the "e.g." or "i.e." and close them after you have given your example or alternate definition.
- For American English usage, you should always put a comma right after both "i.e." and "e.g." as shown in the examples above. For British English usage, do not put a comma right after either "i.e." or "e.g."
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Determine any style manual requirements. If you’re just writing for yourself or in an informal situation, you may not have any specific requirements. However, if you’re writing in a particular academic discipline, or in a particular profession (such as journalism), you will probably be asked to write in accordance with the relevant style manual.
- For example, APA Style, the official style of the American Psychological Association, is used widely in the social sciences and in professions like journalism. APA states that you should always put a comma after e.g. and i.e. when using them: “Some sources (e.g., Janet, 2010; Jeff, 2015) argue that mushrooms are tasty” and “There are three meals in the day (i.e., breakfast, lunch, and dinner)” . [6] X Research source
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Ensure that what you write after i.e. means the same as what precedes it. If you use a sentence that includes i.e. and a parenthetical comment, make sure that the restatement is directly equivalent to what you said first: you should be able to swap them out without a loss of meaning. [7] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source
- The sentence “His favorite type of sandwich is an open-faced sandwich (i.e., one that uses only one piece of bread rather than two)” represents correct usage of i.e.
- The sentence “His favorite type of sandwich is an open-faced sandwich (i.e., a panini or similar type of sandwich)” represents incorrect usage, because “a panini or similar type of sandwich” is NOT directly equivalent to “an open-faced sandwich.”
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Try replacing the abbreviations with their meaning. If it sounds reasonable, then you are probably using the right one. For example, "I like quiet activities (e.g., reading)" becomes "I like quiet activities (for example, reading)" . When trying this with i.e., it is often easier to use "in other words" instead of "that is."
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Community Q&A
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QuestionRequests should not be submitted unless other options (e.g., natural supports, sharing staff time, learning skills) have been explored and documented. Is "e.g." correct?Community AnswerYes, e.g. means "for example".
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QuestionWhat does i.e. mean?DonaganTop AnswererIt stands for the Latin phrase "id est." It means "that is" or "in other words."
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QuestionShould e.g. or i.e. ever be capitalized? Like when they occur separately from the sentence (I.e or E.g)?DonaganTop AnswererIf you feel you have to start a sentence with "e.g." or "i.e.", it would be less confusing to use the equivalent English phrases "for example" or "in other words."
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Tips
- There is no need to use "etc." at the end of a list following "e.g.", as "e.g." implies an incomplete list.Thanks
- If you're still worried about misusing these terms, then the easiest way to avoid misusing them is to not use them at all, even in writing. When you mean "for example," write "for example." When you mean "that is," write "that is." It's not that much more to write, and there's no chance of getting it wrong.Thanks
- Particularly when speaking but even when writing, a pause may be preferable to a Latin abbreviation. For example: I went to my least favourite place -- the dentist.Thanks
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References
- ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/latin-terms-and-abbreviations/
- ↑ http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/ie-versus-eg
- ↑ http://theoatmeal.com/comics/ie
- ↑ http://www.businesswritingblog.com/business_writing/2006/06/iedont_even_thi.html
- ↑ http://grammarist.com/usage/ie-eg/
- ↑ https://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2010/05/its-all-latin-to-me.html
- ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/latin-terms-and-abbreviations/
About This Article
Article Summary
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To use "i.e." versus "e.g.," remember that "i.e." is used before further explaining something and "e.g." is used before providing an example. It also helps to remember that if the phrase "in other words" makes sense in the sentence, you should use "i.e.," and if the phrase "for example" makes sense, you should use "e.g." When in doubt, think of "i.e." as standing for "in essence," and "e.g." as standing for "example given." To learn about how to format either "i.e." or "e.g." in a sentence from our English Ph.D. co-author, keep reading!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Amazing, I have always noticed these acronyms not knowing they are Latin words, and have most likely misused them in my writings. I learned an enormous amount of knowledge (i.e., Latin words,). I completely understand the meaning of i.e., and e.g., and can confidently use them in formal writing. Thank you for all the colorful examples and visuals, the cheat sheet is invaluable." ..." more
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"Amazing, I have always noticed these acronyms not knowing they are Latin words, and have most likely misused them in my writings. I learned an enormous amount of knowledge (i.e., Latin words,). I completely understand the meaning of i.e., and e.g., and can confidently use them in formal writing. Thank you for all the colorful examples and visuals, the cheat sheet is invaluable."
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"Honestly, I never really thought of the differences between "i.e." or "e.g.". This page not only told me the meaning, but the straightforward approach made things clear. The examples and tricks to remember really helped with how to use i.e. and e.g. correctly. Overall, just a well constructed how-to that's really going to help me later!"
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"The numerous examples provided were extremely helpful in understanding how to use, when not to use, and how to pick between the two abbreviations. I find that I learn best when given many examples; this went above and beyond in that regard. Thank you!"
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"Wow! Very thorough explanation. Greatly appreciated. My written linguistic skills have been growing immensely (i.e., I am sure to leave a lasting impression on my readers). BTW, I had to close this window to double-check I had it right. Thank you."
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"Fantastic explanation of everything there is to know about "i. e." and "e. g." Reading this was like going back to school again (meant in a positive way). I'm not a native English speaker, but now I know how to use "i. e." and "e. g." Thanks :-)"
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