To e.g. or to i.e., that is the question

Sometimes you see these little bastards in text or sometimes you might want to put them in there yourself. Gasp!

We aren’t here to tell you how to be fancy or not, but we are here to let you know how to be fancy correctly and not look like a schmuck.

E.g. is short for exempli gratia, or “for example.” But this is a REAL example, so you can use it when you mean, “here are examples.”

I.e. is short for id est, which pretty much means “that is” or “in other words.” This one you use like you’re saying “in other words” or “in essence.” It usually clarifies things.

So, you could say,

I like books, e.g. big books, small books, happy books, cook books, all books that rhyme, all books about crime, all books about time.

Someone might punch you if you say that, but whatever. You do you.

For i.e., you would write,

I like books, i.e., anything that I can read and is bound or on my Kindle or Nook. You’re clarifying what books are. Or you could say,

I like some books, i.e., anything by Carrie Jones and only Carrie Jones.

Shameless self plug up there.

Thanks for listening to Write Better Now.

The music you hear is made available through the creative commons and it’s a bit of a shortened track from the fantastic Mr.ruiz and the track is Arctic Air and the album is Winter Haze Summer Daze.

For exclusive paid content, check out my substack, LIVING HAPPY and WRITE BETTER NOW. It’s basically like a blog, but better. There’s a free option too without the bonus content but all the other tips and submission opportunties and exercises are there.

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