use of "i.e.," vs. "e.g."

[donnap99]

In what context do you use i.e., vs. e.g.?  The question came to me specifically as I wrote "Has the policy been approved (i.e., by The Big Cheese)?"

Following are definitions (from Cambridge International Dictionary of English, via yourdictionary.com), but it didn't help clear it up for me:

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i.e.

abbreviation for id est Latin for 'that is'. Used esp. in writing before a piece of information that makes the meaning of something clearer or shows its true meaning.
The hotel is closed during low season, i.e. from October to March.
Parliament approved a 'reformed' (i.e. stricter) Official Secrets Act.
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e.g.

abbreviation for exempli gratia Latin for 'for example'
We're encouraged to eat food which contains a lot of fibre, e.g. fruit, vegetables and bread.
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DonnaP99

[winkiebear]

In the context you're referring to: "Has the policy been approved (i.e., by the Big Cheese)?" sounds correct.

If you were to use e.g., you'd say something like "Has the policy received approval from all necessary (e.g., the Big Cheese, the Big Chief Muckamuck, the Big Toe, etc.)?"

Does that help?



winkiebear
Deskdemon Editorial Board Member

[bethalize]

I agree with Winkiebear. E.g. is used when listing some of numerous possible examples. Grumpy Martha Grammar suggests that you remember the use of i.e. by the words 'in essence': if you can replace i.e. with this phrase then your use is probably correct.

Bethalize
Deskdemon Forum Board Staff

[gbuchanan]

Another way to decide would be to put say the full meaning in your head to see if it sounds right.

"Has the policy been approved (that is by The Big Cheese)?"
OR
"Has the policy been approved (for example by The Big Cheese)?"

When you say the appreviations in full to yourself, you can hear that the first sentence make more sense.  Whether this will work every time you're using them I don't know.  But it usually works for me

Gaer T Buchanan
Manchester

[karenlucas]

It should work that way, Gaer, because this is essentially what the two expressions mean.  Id est (ie) means 'that is', and is explicit; it refers to the only possible option(s); exempli gratia (eg) literally means 'free example', is general, and refers to one or some of several possibilities.  

Don't worry too much about it, though, it's something that seems to confuse even English teachers!