Do you find yourself confused about whether to use i.e. or e.g. in a sentence? Just me?
Well, if you've ever had a question about which one is right (or what the difference is), I hope this post will clear up any confusion. Below are a few easy tips that help me.
- i.e.: Use this in place of the phrase "in other words." For example, this sentence would be correct: I had a really bad day at work, i.e., all hell broke loose when I walked in the door.
- e.g.: Use this when you're listing a bunch of examples. Here's a sentence that uses e.g. the right way: I love romantic comedies, e.g., The Proposal, Kate and Leopold and While You Were Sleeping.
Pretty simple! The easiest way I remember it is thinking "i" = "in other words" and "e" = "examples."
But if you're still confused (and even if you're not), check out this hilarious explanation from The Oatmeal. I promise that it'll clear things up — and it'll make you laugh.
Do these phrases ever trip you up? I find that I usually want to use i.e. and rarely use e.g. in sentences.
