Abbreviation "i.e." and "e.g." It is very often used incorrectly because many people do not know what it means. This article will help improve your understanding of these abbreviations and their correct use.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Distinguishing Between i.e and e.g
Step 1. Understand that the abbreviation "i.e
"is an abbreviation of the Latin word id est, meaning "that is." "e.g." is an abbreviation for the Latin word exempli gratia, meaning "for example".
Step 2. Associate each abbreviation with phrases that are easier to remember
It can be difficult to remember Latin words, so assume that "i.e." means "in essence (basically)" or "in other words", and "e.g." means "example given" can help.
Step 3. Use creative reminders
Sometimes, even associating abbreviations with other phrases doesn't help. If you're still having trouble, try using more creative reminder solutions, such as linking i.e. with “I explain” or e.g with “egg sample” (which sounds like “example”).
You can also try to remember examples of strange sentences using appropriate abbreviations, 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).” (The best way to drive unicorns out of your estate is to play loud classical Baroque music ("namely", complex classical music created between 1600-1750).)
Method 2 of 3: Knowing the Usage Time i.e. and e.g
Step 1. Use "i.e
to paraphrase.
Make a statement, then add "i.e." to explain, detail, or otherwise describe what you said:
- "The elephant is a pachyderm, i.e., an animal with thick skin and nails resembling hooves". (Elephants are pachyderms, that is, animals with thick skin and hooves resembling horse hooves.)
- "I went to my least favorite place (i.e., the dentist)". (I go where I least like (that is, the dentist).)
- Notice that following "i.e." is a further definition. It can also mean a metaphor. If you replace "i.e." with "in other words", the sentence still makes sense. If you enter "for example", the sentence makes no sense.
Step 2. Use "e.g
before giving one or more examples.
Think of things that precede "e.g." as a category, and the things that follow it as something (or things) that fall into that category (but not all of them fall into that category):
- "Buy some vegetables, e.g., carrots". (Buy some vegetables, like carrots.)
- "I like power metal (e.g., Firewind, Iced Earth, Sonata Arctica)". (I like power metal genres (eg, Firewind, Iced Earth, Sonata Arctica).)
- Observe that the use of "i.e." doesn't make sense in the following examples. "Carrot" is no other way to describe vegetables in general. Carrots are just one of many foods that include vegetables. If you wanted to use "i.e.", you would write "Buy some vegetables, i.e., the edible part of any plant. Likewise, the band mentioned is an example of a power metal genre, not a description. If you used "i.e.", you would write something like ""I like power metal, i.e., fast metal with symphonic elements and epic themes. (I like power metal genres, which are fast metal genres with symphonic elements and heroic themes.)
Step 3. Use e.g
and i.e. in a short comment.
It is customary to use the abbreviation e.g. and i.e. when adding an insert statement, such as a clarification or explanation. However, if the clarification or explanation is part of the main sentence, elaborate on the phrase that fits your meaning.
- For example, if you are writing a paper and want to provide some examples of sources that contradict a certain point, use eg: “Some studies (eg, Smith, 2015; Yao, 1999) support this assertion, while others -- for example, Abdullah's (2013) research on pizza and topping choice -- disagree. (Some studies (such as Smith, 2015; Yao, 1999) support this statement, while others – such as Abdullah's (2013) study on pizza and its topping choices – disagree.)”
- Use i.e. to provide a short explanation and a phrase to provide a longer and detailed explanation: “In our research we altered the order of image display (ie, first, second, or third) as well as their color scheme, that is, whether we had applied a blue or green filter". (In our research, we changed the order in which the images were displayed (i.e., one, two, or three) as well as the color scheme, that is, if we applied a blue or green filter.)
Step 4. Consider your readers
Great confusion surrounds i.e. and e.g., even among highly educated readers. If you think your readers may not understand the purpose of using abbreviations, skip it and use an explanatory phrase.
Method 3 of 3: Formatting and Rechecking Usage i.e and e.g. You
Step 1. Print italics only if you are asked to do so
English speakers commonly see Latin words and phrases in italics, such as in medias res ("in the middle of a subject") or in loco parentis ("substitute for a parent"). However, commonly used Latin words and phrases are usually not italicized – including i.e. and e.g.
Step 2. Use parentheses or commas for both
To indicate a separate clause, you can put a comma before "i.e." or "e.g." or you can use parentheses, both of which are shown in the example above. If you are using parentheses, open the parenthesis immediately before the "e.g." or "i.e.", and close the brackets after you provide your examples or other definitions.
For American English usage, you should always put a comma right after "i.e." nor "e.g." as shown in the examples above. For British English usage, don't put a comma right after "i.e." nor "e.g."
Step 3. Define any usage style requirements
If you are only writing for yourself or in informal situations, you may not have any special requirements. However, if you are writing in a certain academic course, or in a certain profession (such as journalism), you may be asked to write in an appropriate style of usage.
For example, the APA writing style, the official writing style of the American Psychological Association, is used widely in the social sciences and in professions such as journalism. APA states that you should always put a comma after e.g. and i.e. when using them: “Some sources (eg, Janet, 2010; Jeff, 2015) argue that mushrooms are tasty” and “There are three meals in the day (ie, breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Step 4. Make sure that the thing you write after i.e
has the same meaning as what preceded it.
If you use a sentence that uses i.e and comments in parentheses, make sure that the restatement is equivalent to what you said earlier: you should be able to swap them out without losing their meaning.
- The sentence "His favorite type of sandwich is an open-faced sandwich (ie, one that uses only one piece of bread rather than two). two).)"
- The sentence “His favorite type of sandwich is an open-faced sandwich (ie, a panini or similar type of sandwich)” shows the wrong usage, because “panini or other type of sandwich” is NOT the equivalent of “open sandwich”.
Step 5. Try replacing the abbreviations with their meanings
If it sounds reasonable, then you probably used the right word. For example, "I like quiet activities (eg, reading)" becomes "I like quiet activities (for example, reading). other words" versus "ie".
Tips
- No need to use "etc." at the end of a list that follows "e.g.", because "e.g." shows an incomplete list.
- Better not to use "i.e." or "e.g." while talking. Instead, use "ie", or "in other words" instead of "i.e.", and "for example" or "as an example" instead of "e.g."
- For an example of using "i.e." vs. "e.g." Well, look at the scene between Chili Palmer (John Travolta) and Ray "Bones" Barboni (Dennis Farina) in the 1995 film "Get Shorty".
- If you're still worried about using these terms incorrectly, then the easiest way to avoid using them is to not use them at all, even in writing. When you want to say "for example", write "for example". When you want to say "that is," write "that is." Writing these words down is not difficult, and you are unlikely to go wrong.
