Use of the abreviation i.e. or e.g.

[Shibby]

I found this interesting since I have used it incorrectly for as long as I can remember. I was curious of the abreviation so I looked it up. I have just used it like I have seen it used for so long.


Exempli gratia (e.g.) and id est (i.e.) are commonly confused and misused in colloquial English. The former, exempli gratia, means "for example", and is used before giving examples of something ("I have lots of favorite colors, e.g., blue, green, and hot pink"). The latter, id est, means "that is", and is used before clarifying the meaning of something, when elaborating, specifying, or explaining rather than when giving examples ("I have lots of favorite colors, i.e., I can't decide on just one"). Both "e.g." and "i.e." should generally be followed by a comma, just as "for example" and "that is" would be. See Dictionary.com and their discussion of commas for more information. Google for "comma after i.e." for other opinions

[slayer of souls]

Thanks for the clarification!

Please share more in the future.

[go Yankees]

I think now's the appropriate time for someone to follow that up with a post about proper usage of "your" and "you're"

[coffee-guy]

While we are at it...

Irregardless....

Usage Note: Irregardless is a word that many mistakenly believe to be correct usage in formal style, when in fact it is used chiefly in nonstandard speech or casual writing. Coined in the United States in the early 20th century, it has met with a blizzard of condemnation for being an improper yoking of irrespective and regardless and for the logical absurdity of combining the negative ir- prefix and -less suffix in a single term. Although one might reasonably argue that it is no different from words with redundant affixes like debone and unravel, it has been considered a blunder for decades and will probably continue to be so.

[coffee-guy]

lol, have you seen that used here?

I can't recall - I just know that it bugs the hell out of me when I see or hear it used.

[meat12]

You're all wrong irregardless

[blm]

I bet "definitely" is one of the most mispelled words on the board.

[hlcn8]

and if you want to write a thesis on linguistics and its misuses, look at any of njjuicers posts :)