About a month ago, my friend Crystal challenged her Facebook friends with a link to an on-line grammar test. I did well, earning the title of “Grammar Queen” or something like that, but one question stumped me: I didn’t know the difference between i.e. and e.g.
They both mean, “for example,” right?
Not exactly. And because I’m such a nerd, I did some research so you won’t have to.
(Thank you to Writer’s Digest Grammatically Correct for helping me figure this out!)
The Grammar Nazi Info
Both of these abbreviations give more information about a prior statement, but there is an important distinction between the two.
- i.e. comes from the Latin phrase id est, which means, “that is.” It restates what has already been said, implying that no other options are possible.
I can meet you early next week, i.e. Monday or Tuesday.
With this example, it should be clear that Monday and Tuesday are the only days I’m available.
- e.g. comes from the Latin exempli gratia, which means “for example”. It offers an illustration of what was previously said, but implies that other options are possible.
The Sweetheart Dance is next week! I need to find an outfit, e.g. dress, shoes, jewelry.
The “e.g.” implies that the list of items I include for the “outfit” isn’t comprehensive. What about hair accessories?!
Also, please note that since the abbreviations are both for two-word Latin phrases, there should be two periods, one for each word.
Yes: i.e. No: ie.
Word Nerd Workout
The only good way to learn is TO DO. Give it a try, even if it feels a little like homework. In the comments, let me know if I’ve used the Latin abbreviation appropriately in the following sentences. If not, tell me why and fix it.
- We stopped at Food Lion to pick up everything we needed to bake a chocolate cake, i.e. milk, flour, butter.
- I was worried because Eric had several flu symptoms, eg. congestion and fever.
Can anyone add to my illustration? What other grammar points give you trouble?
Special Word Nerd request: I know that Augustus Waters uses either i.e. or e.g. at some point when he is speaking to Hazel in The Fault in Our Stars. I wanted so badly to use that excerpt to analyze Gus’s grammar knowledge, but I can’t find it! Any help out there?
Thanks for stopping by!
Julia
I did not know this! Pretty cool!
Yay! I’m glad you took the time to check it out. These days I use i.e. and e.g. much more carefully than I used to…
Yep, #1 is wrong and the other is correct. I knew those differences, but it was years before I learned it. “sic” was the one that always threw me.
I enjoy these little tips, Julie. My crit group refers to me as the Comma Nazi, since I’m the one who knows where to place the little buggers–most of time, that is.
So glad we have each other to practice on. It saves the world at large, doesn’t it, from our practice mistakes. 🙂
Yay Claudette! I’m happy to have the company of another Grammar Nazi! We must “hang out” more often. And just a gentle reminder, I’m Julia, not Julie. 🙂
Keep saving the world, one comma at a time. Do misplaced apostrophes drive you batty too?
Sorry, Julia. Slip of the fingers. The misname wasn’t intentional.
Now, yes, apostrophes do drive me nuts, as so colons and semi-colons. It took what seemed like forever before semi-colon use came clear to me, but once I got it, I never looked back. The thing that kills me most are run-on sentences, though, and comma splices.
Still, I should be grateful for them. They give me plenty to look for and a sense of satisfaction when I find them and can correct them. 🙂
I’ll be back another day to see how and on what you’re using your red pen. Have a terrific week, my friend.
I didn’t know this either – and I now I know I use i.e. incorrectly. I think #1 is wrong and #2 is correct.
Oh…as for Halcyon. Did you know I live in “Halcyon Valley”? Heavenly 🙂
Seriously? Halcyon Valley? How poetically perfect. Yes, I’m pretty sure I’ve been using i.e. incorrectly for a long time. So glad my friend Crystal brought this up!
I didn’t know the difference, but once you explained, it makes perfect sense. The first sentence is wrong because i.e. means that’s everything you need for a cake. The second one is right. Now I just have to remember next time I want to use one of these!
Great Dana! Yes, the remembering part is tricky. Especially since motherhood has zapped some of my short term memory brain cells. Hope you have good luck!
Ahh! I kinda knew this, but couldn’t have put it into words. Very interesting. It’s rare a grammar question makes me pause as this one did. Your final examples above should both be e.g., because neither offer a complete list, but just a couple of examples. It is harder to come up with a good i.e. statement, i.e. a statement with an added clause that clarifies by restating rather than with a few examples of what is meant.
Excellent Jane Ann! Very clever. Glad to help out!
I didn’t know this either! Latin fail. Thanks for clarifying. Now I need to put on my thinking cap and come up with few examples!
Thank you Julia — I did not know this and will be incorporating this now – thanks for clarifying. 😉 😉 Hester,
Happy to help, Hester. Have a great weekend. Hope the Bible study is going well.