The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'
For example, the different ways to use them in a sentence
What to KnowI.e. means “that is,” as in “She’s a Hoosier, i.e., she’s from Indiana.” E.g. means “for example,” as in “She roots for the local teams, e.g., the Colts and the Pacers.”
How to Use 'i.e.'
I.e. stands for the Latin id est, or 'that is,' and is used to introduce a word or phrase that restates what has been said previously. What follows the i.e. is meant to clarify the earlier statement:
Some swing States, such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, are from the ‘Rust Belt’ — i.e., they were industrialised but have seen industrial decline and relative urban decay since.
— The Hindu (Chennai, Ind.), 2 Sept. 2024
I.e. is similarly useful for defining or explaining a term or concept whose meaning readers might not know:
Take butterflied—i.e. deboned—whole fish, sprinkle it with lime and orange juices, and sumac, and then bake for about 10 minutes.
— Emily Weinstein, The New York Times, 10 June 2022If your home has “hard water” (i.e., a high mineral content), your sinks, showers, and tubs no doubt bear white or yellow buildup as a result. — Manasa Reddigari, BobVila.com, 22 Aug. 2019
While an i.e. phrase is often set off by brackets or parentheses, it can also sometimes follow a comma or em dash. I.e. itself is usually followed by a comma.
How to Use 'e.g.'
E.g. means “for example.” (It stands for exempli gratia in Latin.) It is used in much the same ways as 'for example,' coming before an item or list of items.
Set an immediate timeline, e.g., three weeks, to learn all this.
— Waterloo Region Record (Kitchener, Canada), 12 July 2022The original soapmaker Emanuel Bronner was no more a doctor than the fictional Dr Pepper, but I certainly relate to the bizarro messages fine-printed on his products, e.g., “Smile, help teach the whole Human race, the Moral ABC of All-One-God Faith, Lightning-like string & we’re All One!’’
— Boston Globe, May 16 2025
E.g. is similar to i.e. in the way it is punctuated: an e.g. phrase is often placed inside brackets or parentheses, and can sometimes follow a comma or em dash. E.g. itself is also usually followed by a comma.
It may help to remember that both 'that is' and 'for example' function in English in the same way as i.e. and e.g.. If you feel uncertain try substituting ‘that is’ for i.e., or ‘for example’ for e.g.; if your sentence still makes sense you’ve used the right one.
