I.e. vs. E.g.

Have you seen i.e. and e.g. in writing and wondered what they actually mean? These little abbreviations can make your writing clearer and more precise — if you use the right one!

What do i.e. and e.g. mean?

Both come from Latin:

• E.g. stands for exempli gratia, which means for example.
• I.e. stands for id est, which means that is or in other words.

Don’t worry — you don’t need to remember the Latin, just what they’re used for!

E.g.

E.g. is used to give one or more examples.

• You should eat more veggies, e.g., broccoli, spinach, and carrots.
• I love creative hobbies, e.g., painting and songwriting. 🎨
• We use apps that help with focus, e.g., Notion or Forest.

Use e.g. when you want to give a few possible examples — not a complete list.

I.e.

I.e. is used to explain or rephrase what you just said in a clearer way.

• He’s a polyglot, i.e., someone who speaks several languages.
• Let’s meet in the usual place, i.e., the café near school.
• I work remotely, i.e., I don’t go to an office. 💻

Use i.e. when you want to explain exactly what you mean.