What does “i.e.” and “e.g.” mean?
People appear somewhat dazed on the differences and proper usages of the Latin abbreviations “i.e.” and “e.g.“
The two are indeed different, so if you’ve been using them interchangeably, you’ve been wrong this whole time. Let us all avoid embarrassing grammar mistakes together!
How to use i.e. and e.g.
I.e. stands for id est, which translates to “that is”. The information that follows i.e. should help clarify or more precisely define what precedes it; as you can see from the sentence:
The hotel offers various amenities, i.e., a swimming pool, gym and spa services.
From the sentence, we understand that the swimming pool, gym and spa services is how the hotel defines its various amenities.
E.g. stands for exempli gratia, which directly translates to “for example”. Much like “for example”, e.g. introduces or gives a few examples from a number of possible examples within the same category or topic:
Certain fur-bearing mammals, e.g., nutria and otters, spend much of their lives in the water.
Nutria and otters are both examples of fur-bearing mammals, (amongst other examples). Because e.g. implies that there are other examples to choose from, it’s not to also include “etc.” in the same sentence.
How to punctuate “i.e.” and “e.g.”
In American English:
- Write i.e. and e.g. using lower case letters, with periods between both letters.
- Do not italicize i.e. or e.g., unless spelling out the individual words.
- Neither abbreviation should be in italics (unless the full abbreviation is being spelled out out; e.g., exampli gratia written out should be in Italics since it’s in a different language, Latin).
In sentences where what comes before and after i.e. or e.g. are both independent clauses, use a semicolon and a comma. When i.e. and e.g. appear in the middle of a sentence, they should be offset by either parentheses or commas.
Examples: i.e. & e.g.
| Abbreviation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| e.g. |
The use of informal language should be avoided in academic texts (e.g., theses, research papers, and essays).
The company provides a number of benefits (e.g., yearly bonuses and generous sick pay) that make it an attractive place to work.
Some citrus fruits—e.g., lemons and limes—are sour.
|
| i.e. |
The critics called the performance “scintillating” and “dazzling”—i.e., they loved it.
There’s only one way I don’t like my potatoes prepared, i.e., boiled.
They spent their last day at camp enjoying their two favorite activities, i.e., swimming and zip-lining.
|
In review: i.e. vs. e.g.
- I.e. defines something specific indicated by the previous sentence, and is used interchangeably with phrases like “that is to say”, or “specifically”.
- E.g. gives an example amongst other possible examples or alternatives.
Practice: i.e. vs. e.g.
The mayor announced a single priority—___, reduce traffic fatalities—before outlining the budget.
She enjoys hearty root vegetables—___, carrots, parsnips, and beets—in winter soups.
The acronym NASA—___, National Aeronautics and Space Administration—was officially formed in 1958.
The abbreviation meaning “in other words” is written in ___ letters: i.e.
They focused on Portugal’s two largest cities—___, Lisbon and Porto—when planning the itinerary.
FAQs
What’s the difference between i.e. and e.g.?
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What does i.e. mean & how is it used?
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What does e.g. mean & how is it used?
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How should i.e. and e.g. be punctuated?
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Can I use i.e. and e.g. interchangeably?
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Yash, D. "How to Use I.e. or E.g. (Explained, Examples & Worksheet)." Grammarflex, Aug 28, 2025, https://grammarflex.com/how-do-you-use-i-e-in-a-sentence-i-e-vs-e-g/.
