i.e. v. e.g.

 

A common mistake writers often make is to mix-up the abbreviations “i.e.” and “e.g.,” both Latin phrases.  “I.e.” is defined as follows:

           i.e.:    abbr. Latin “id est” — that is

Use “i.e.” when what follows is another way of saying or explaining what precedes “i.e.” Thus, use “i.e.” when you intend to say “it is,” “that is,” or “in other words.”  ***Memory trick: Think of the “i” in “i.e.” as standing for “i”n other words.  An example is as follows: 

• Section 501(c)(3) exempts charitable organizations (i.e., organizations operated exclusively for charitable purposes and not for lobbying activities) from federal income taxes.

On the other hand, the definition of “e.g.” is as follows:

           e.g.:   abbr. Latin “exemplī grātiā” — for example

Use “e.g.” when what follows is an example or a partial list of what precedes “e.g.”   Thus, use “e.g.” when you intend to say “for example,” “including,” or “such as.”  Memory trick: Think of the “e” in “e.g.” as standing for “e”xample.  An example is as follows: 

• Section 501(c)(3) exempts charitable organizations (e.g., educational organizations or private foundations) from federal income taxes.

Note, “e.g.” is not an abbreviation for the Latin “ergo,” meaning therefore; using it this way is another common mistake.

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Abbreviations Need Proper Punctuation

As noted above, “i.e.” and “e.g.” are abbreviations of Latin phrases.  As abbreviations, you should use the proper punctuation, periods between the letters. 

          Wrong:          ie, eg

          Correct:        i.e., e.g.

See Rule 6.1(b) of The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation 73 (18th ed. 2005). 

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In the Text, Do Not Italicize

Do not italicize “i.e.” or “e.g.” in the text of a document.  You should only italicize long Latin phrases or obsolete words or phrases.  The abbreviations, though Latin, have been incorporated into the common English language and, thus, are not italicized.

See Rule 7(b) of The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation 75 (18th ed. 2005). 

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As a Signal, Italicize E.g.

However, when using “e.g.” as a signal in citation sentences or clauses, you should italicize it.  As a signal, “e.g.” may be used alone or in combination with other signals.  Always follow the italicized “e.g.” with an unitalicized comma.

• See, e.g., Grove v. Comr., 490 F.2d 241 (2d Cir. 1973).

See Rules 1.2 and 2.1(d) of The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation 46, 55 (18th ed. 2005).

 

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