Usage Tip O' the Week: i.e. versus e.g

The abbreviations i.e. and e.g. are commonly misused -- but that does not make it acceptable. Each has a distinct and limited usage. They are both abbreviations for Latin terms. I.e. stands for id est and means roughly "that is." E.g. stands for exempli gratia, which means “for example.” Both are used to introduce parenthetical statements.

An easy way to remember which is which: think of i.e., as meaning “in other words,” and e.g., which starts with e, means “for example.” I = in other words. E= example.

e.g. means “for example,” so you use it to introduce an example or examples: I like card games, e.g., bridge and crazy eights. Because e.g. is used, you know a list of examples of card games is provided.

i.e. means “in other words,” so you use it to introduce a parenthetical clarification: I'm going to the place where I work, i.e., the university. The place where I work is the university.

In American English, it is standard to use a comma after i.e. and e.g.