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I.e. vs e.g.

E.g. = for example (some of many). I.e. = that is (the exact thing).

e.g.

Latin exempli gratia, “for example”

Test: Are you giving some examples out of more possibilities?

Bring a snack, e.g., fruit or nuts.
Citrus fruits (e.g., lemons) are sour.

i.e.

Latin id est, “that is”

Test: Are you restating or narrowing to the exact thing?

The capital, i.e., Paris, was quiet.
Use the main door, i.e., the one on Elm Street.

E.g. = “example given”. I.e. = “in essence”.

Test yourself

Five sentences. Apply the test above to each one before you pick.

Pack warm clothes, _____, a coat and gloves.
Our biggest market, _____, Germany, grew.
Avoid dairy, _____, milk, cheese and yogurt.
The deadline is end of quarter, _____, March 31.
Try a primary colour, _____, red.

Pick an answer for each sentence.

Punctuation

American style guides (Chicago, APA) put a full stop after each letter and a comma after: “e.g., apples”. Many British guides drop the comma, and some (such as the Guardian’s) drop the stops too: “eg apples”. Don’t add “etc.” after an e.g. list; “e.g.” already says the list is incomplete.

Catch it automatically

The grammar checker flags common mix-ups like this one by looking at the words around them, and the sentence checker can explain any sentence you’re unsure about.

Questions people ask

Do I need a comma after e.g.?

In US style, yes: “e.g., …”. In UK style it is usually optional.

Should e.g. and i.e. be italicised?

No. Major style guides treat them as standard English abbreviations, not foreign words.

Other grammar guides

Affect vs effectAffect is usually the verb. Effect is usually the noun.Its vs it’sIt’s = it is / it has. Its = belonging to it.Your vs you’reYou’re = you are. Your = belonging to you.Their, there and they’reTheir = belonging to them. There = place / “there is”. They’re = they are.Advice vs adviseAdvice is the noun (rhymes with “nice”). Advise is the verb (rhymes with “prize”).Then vs thanThan compares things. Then tells you when.Whose vs who’sWho’s = who is / who has. Whose = belonging to whom.Principal vs principlePrinciple = a rule or belief. Principal = main, a head person, or a loan amount.Lose vs looseLose = misplace or not win (rhymes with “shoes”). Loose = not tight (rhymes with “goose”).Who vs whomWho does the action (he). Whom receives it (him).Farther vs furtherFarther = physical distance. Further = degree, time or “more”.Everyday vs every dayEveryday = ordinary (an adjective). Every day = each day.Complement vs complimentCompliment = praise. Complement = something that completes or suits.Into vs in toInto = movement inside or a change. In to = “in” (part of a verb) + “to”.Lay vs lieYou lay something down. You lie down yourself.Fewer vs lessFewer for countable things. Less for uncountable amounts.Accept vs exceptAccept = receive or agree to. Except = apart from.To, too and twoTo = direction or verb marker. Too = also / excessively. Two = 2.