Monday, July 18, 2005
Are i.e. and e.g. Interchangeable?
No. They are not. But they are often used as though they are. The abbreviation e.g. is Latin for exempli gratia. It means for example and should be used to illustrate or provide examples of something previously referred to. I love all kinds of candy, e.g. taffy, mints, gumdrops, ju-jubes, and Atomic Fireballs. The abbreviation i.e. is Latin for id est and means that is. It should be used to qualify, clarify or otherwise further explain a previously mentioned point. The Lord of the Rings is a trilogy, i.e. three separate books.
Formally both e.g. and i.e. are spelled using the full stops. It is becoming more acceptable to render them as eg and ie. The best rule of thumb is to be consistent. If you omit the stops in one place omit them everywhere in your written practice, otherwise always put them in.
Formally both e.g. and i.e. are spelled using the full stops. It is becoming more acceptable to render them as eg and ie. The best rule of thumb is to be consistent. If you omit the stops in one place omit them everywhere in your written practice, otherwise always put them in.
# posted by Ninja @ 8:51 PM 
