They may be small, but
their power to befuddle (I mean to confuse) writers and speakers of the English
language is mighty.
The term
“i.e.” is a shortening of the Latin expression “id est”, which translates to
“that is”. It is used to introduce a rephrasing or an elaboration on something
that has already been stated.
The term
“e.g.” is an abbreviation of the Latin expression “exempli gratia”,
meaning “for the sake of example” or more colloquially, “for example”. This
term is used to introduce examples of something that has already been stated.
Examples
using i.e. and e.g.
Here is an
example using i.e.
“I like
citrus fruits, i.e., the juicy, edible fruits with leathery, aromatic rinds.”
In this
example, “i.e.” introduces an elaboration on citrus fruits.
Here is an
example using e.g.
“I like citrus
fruits, e.g., tangerines, lemons, and limes.”
In this
example, “e.g.” introduces examples of citrus fruits.
How Do You
Correctly Use i.e. and e.g.?
One easy way
to remember the difference between these two abbreviations is by employing a
simple mnemonic device: think of the ‘i’ at the beginning of “i.e.” as a stand
in for the first word in the phrase “in other words”. This indicates that the
clause that follows will rephrase or explain the first part of the sentence.
e.g. is a little more
straightforward since e stands for exempli,
meaning “example”.
And, remember
that in formal writing, e.g. and i.e. are
often set off in parentheses and followed by a comma; in less formal writing,
it is standard to place a comma before and after these terms.
© Joseph Baidoo
Joseph Baidoo is a Ghanaian and is popularly known on social media as Misty Joe.
© Joseph Baidoo
Joseph Baidoo is a Ghanaian and is popularly known on social media as Misty Joe.
