Posted on 12/05/2018 12:19:28 PM PST by RoosterRedux
Ready to learn a little Latin? The abbreviations i.e. and e.g. are two of the most mistakenly-used words in the writing world. Even highly-educated professionals mix up i.e. and e.g. in their technical writing all the time. (I wonder what no brainer is in Latin?)
The short version
I.e. stands for id est, which means in other words.
Use i.e. when taking a complex idea and restating it to make it easier to understand. It can also be used to signify a clarification or making something more specific.
E.g. stands for exempli gratia, which means for example.
Use e.g. to follow an idea with scenarios that illustrate that idea. It is a presentation of that idea in action, not a clarification of it, as with i.e.
As usual, there is a little more than meets the eye with these two abbreviations, so lets take a closer look.
When to use I.e.
Have you ever had someone explain something in very technical terminology, terminology that went over your head entirely? Perhaps you responded by saying, In English, please? Thats how you can remember the meaning of i.e. This abbreviation says, Let me make it clearer for you.
(Excerpt) Read more at wordcounter.io ...
“I.e. stands for id est, which means in other words.”
No, id est translates to “that is”.
Wat up my peeps?
:-)
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“Thats all I need is the punctuation police showing up.”
You left out the apostrophe. :-)
LOL!
All in jest.
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I LIKE it!
bkmk
I always think of i.e. as replacing "that is to say"; and e.g. as meaning "for example".
It's important that we freepers use well grammar.
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(Yes, I'm only kidding in the last sentence.)
yup
I can’t read or write anyway.
Good article!
e.g. = example given
My dad had Latin while in high school at De La Salle in Detroit. The only other person I know who had Latin was my nephew at a private school in Michigan......He earned an honors award.
Politicians talk in twenty dollar words, President Trumps prefers the ten centers that I can understand...
Just another reason why Trump differs from the typical politician......
As a writer, I thank you for posting this for readers.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked about both!
No, "in other words" is "in otras palabras." Or is that Catalan? All those Romance languages look so similar.
Just remember, today is the anniversary of the repeal of the 18th amendment. Nunc est bibendum!
You fail capitalization.
“Thanks for posting this, as the terms are often confused.”
Never use a semi-colon when a comma can do.
Never use a comma when it is not needed.
I always remembered which is which because “example” has a “g” in it...
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