E.g. vs. i.e.

The abbreviations e.g. and i.e. often get used in place of each other, probably because many people aren’t clear on their actual meanings.

Let me break it down for you: Use e.g. when you mean “for example.” Use i.e. when you mean “in other words.” To figure out which one to use, just replace the abbreviation with “for example” and “in other words,” and see which one makes more sense. Try it in the examples below:

Chester still needs to buy several things before leaving for his camping trip (e.g., new boots, a warm hat, beef jerky).
The hotel was loaded with amenities (e.g., heated pool, workout area, in-room mini-bar) that made our stay comfortable.
I enjoy listening to jazz (e.g., Herbie Hancock).

Bridget wanted to buy shoes made of synthetic materials (i.e., nothing that came from animals).
The man at the bar came off as rather supercilious (i.e., contemptuous and arrogant).
Cheryl went to her favorite restaurant (i.e., anyplace that serves margaritas) for lunch.

Punctuation and Style

Notice the punctuation: lowercase, two periods, followed by a comma. Also notice I used e.g. and i.e. in parentheses in every example. You don’t have to use parentheses—you could set it off with an initial comma instead. But if you choose not to use parentheses, you might be better off using actual words, such as “for example,” “such as” or “in other words.”

Also, although many foreign words and abbreviations are italicized when used in an English sentence, i.e. and e.g. should not be italicized. I’m italicizing them in this blog post simply to call them out as words. Notice I didn’t italicize them in my examples. When a foreign word or abbreviation is commonly used in English, it need not be italicized.

Actual Meanings

Both abbreviations come from Latin. I.e. stands for “id est,” which translates to “that is.” E.g. stands for “exempli gratia,” which translates to “for the sake of an example.” Some people mistakenly think e.g. stands for “example given.” This is incorrect, but if it helps you remember when to use e.g. and when to use i.e., then go for it. Just make sure you have it straight if you ever find yourself in ancient Rome.

Questions? Leave a comment or email me at dave@thegrammargeek.com.