Diane Hughes | @DianeWordsmith
  • Home
  • My Blogs
    • Musings on Life
    • The Write Stuff Blog
    • Ireland Travel Blog
    • Tread Light Adventure Travel
  • Resume
  • My Work
    • Writing Portfolio
    • Photo Gallery
  • Writing/Editing services
  • Contact

THE WRITE STUFF
Writing & Grammar Blog
 
DIANE HUGHES • NASHVILLE, TN
WRITER, EDITOR, CREATIVE PROFESSIONAL

i.e. and e.g.: What they mean and how to use them

8/30/2012

5 Comments

 
Picture
The abbreviations i.e. and e.g. are frequently misused and misunderstood. Here's an explanation of what they mean and a memory aid to help you use them correctly.

I.E.
I.e. is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase id est, which translated means that is. My easy memory tool is to equate "that is" with "in other words." I associate the "i" of i.e. with "in," to help me remember its meaning. If you can substitute "that is" or "in other words" for i.e. in your sentence, then you've made the right choice. 

Examples
I will spend the weekend engaged in my favorite activity, i.e., reading a book.

I will spend the weekend engaged in my favorite activity, that is, reading a book.

I will spend the weekend engaged in my favorite activity, in other words, reading a book.

E.G.
The abbreviation e.g. is Latin for exempli gratia, which means "for example" or "example given." My memory aid is to remember the "e" for example. In fact, I even think of it as eggs-ample, further playing on the "eg" letters.

Examples
Mary likes to grow salad fixings in her garden, e.g., spinach, lettuce, radishes and tomatoes.

Mary likes to grow salad fixings in her garden, for example, spinach, lettuce, radishes and tomatoes.


If you can remember "i" for "in" and "e" for "example," you should be able to easily distinguish between this pair of word teasers. In fact, if you can just remember one, you know the other by default.

For American English users, remember that i.e. and e.g. are set off with commas. It is also acceptable to precede these abbreviations with a semicolon instead of a comma.

Have you had issues distinguishing between i.e. and e.g.? Do you have a memory aid to help you remember the difference? Please share your thoughts in the comments. And if you have a grammar question, please share it here. 
Subscribe to The Write Stuff
5 Comments

    DIANE HUGHES

    I blog about grammar, style, punctuation & more

    Picture
         
          

    Subscribe by email.

    Delivered by FeedBurner


    Note: The Write Stuff has its own feed. If you already subscribe to Musings on Life, please sign up here to receive updates of The Write Stuff.
            
    Have a question?
    Having trouble with plurals and possessives? Got a bad case of misplaced commas? Not sure when to use a colon instead of a semicolon? Submit your question for consideration on the blog.
    Question?

    ARCHIVES

    April 2014
    February 2014
    November 2013
    January 2013
    September 2012
    August 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    December 2011

    CATEGORIES

    All
    Everyday Vs. Every Day
    Further Vs. Farther
    Grammar
    Homophones
    I.e. & E.g.
    Libel Vs Liable
    Myriad
    Peak/peek/pique
    Rein Or Reign
    Renown / Renowned
    Stationary Vs. Stationery
    Style
    Time Element
    Typos
    Who Vs Whom
    Word Usage
    Writing

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from warrenski, cheekycrows3, smbuckley23, Brett Jordan, fauxto_digit