I.e. versus e.g.

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It is really annoying when someone confuses "i.e." with "e.g." If you are unsure, just say "in other words" for the former and "for example" for the latter. It really is important. When I read such dolts (i.e. those confusing the two) I want to take drastic measures (e.g. chew a NyQuil).

Comments

  1. Rachael Anne10:53 PM

    If you're going to write posts like this, you should do the ignorant a favor and define the terms clearly.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sheldon Richman7:24 AM

    Better idea: leave Latin in the graveyard. You may know the difference between i.e. and e.g., but can you be sure your reader does? Do you want to risk being misunderstood? Write "that is" for i.e. and "for example" for e.g. Often you don't even have to use those phrases.

    ReplyDelete
  3. gcallah9:01 AM

    Sheldon et al. make a good point when they note that, ceteris paribus, it's much better to interfecit the Latin and, at least a priori, speak English!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bob Murphy11:00 AM

    Quick responses:

    Rachael, I didn't define them because I don't know what they stand for.

    Sheldon, that's a good point. But just to clarify, I'm not being snooty and saying people ought to use them, I'm just saying if they DO use them, they should know what they mean.

    Gene, I could take your posts a lot more seriously if your picture didn't show you at play.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jim Wetzel5:32 PM

    This gives me such a flashback to "Get Shorty." Ray Bones (Dennis Farina): "E.g., i.e., f--k you."

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wabulon4:17 PM

    Whatever happened to "viz."? And it's 12:00 m., not 12:00 p.m., f'r Christ's sake (yes, He did visit Japan, read the Book of Mormon if you don't believe me). Verbum quam veritatem malo.

    ReplyDelete

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