---
source: https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/plain-for-example-not-eg-ie.md
title: "Write "for example" instead of e.g. and i.e."
license: CC-BY-4.0
license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
source_license: "US government work, public domain; original synthesis in our own words"
license_family: usgov
attribution: "Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Sources: GSA / PlainLanguage.gov archive, Use examples, US government work, public domain; Digital.gov (GSA), Digital.gov style guide, US government work, public domain."
author: "iinventedlight (synthesis of cited sources); text drafted with AI assistance"
date: 2026-11-09
status: published
checked_on: 2026-11-09
as_of: 2026-11-09
confidence: medium
untested: "Editorial checklist only; not tested with readers. Sources fetched and evidence checked."
category: coverage-gaps
topic_area: "write-edit"
tags: [plain-language, style, abbreviations, latin]
client: Librarian
sources:
  - id: S1
    title: "Use examples"
    publisher: GSA / PlainLanguage.gov archive
    url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/GSA/plainlanguage.gov/main/_pages/guidelines/conversational/use-examples.md
    accessed: 2026-11-09
    license: "US government work, public domain"
  - id: S2
    title: "Digital.gov style guide"
    publisher: Digital.gov (GSA)
    url: https://digital.gov/style-guide/
    accessed: 2026-11-09
    license: "US government work, public domain"
---
# Write "for example" instead of e.g. and i.e.

**Answer:** Avoid the Latin abbreviations e.g. and i.e.: few people know what they mean, and many confuse the two. Instead, write out the lead-in, such as "for example."

## If a house style keeps them

- The two terms are not interchangeable; each has its own meaning and usage.
- "i.e." stands for id est, which means "that is" or "in other words."
- "e.g." stands for exempli gratia, which means "for example"; use it to list one or more examples.

## See also

- [plain-language-abbreviations-and-consistency](https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/plain-language-abbreviations-and-consistency/)
- [plain-examples-for-complex-ideas](https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/plain-examples-for-complex-ideas/)

## Claims

- id: C1
  claim: The Federal Plain Language Guidelines say to avoid the Latin abbreviations.
  source: S1
  evidence: "Avoid using the Latin abbreviations for \"for example\" (e.g.) and \"that is\" (i.e.)."

- id: C2
  claim: Readers often do not know or confuse the two.
  source: S1
  evidence: "Few people know what they mean, and they often confuse the two."

- id: C3
  claim: Digital.gov says the two terms are not interchangeable.
  source: S2
  evidence: "These two terms are not interchangeable; each has its own meaning and usage."

- id: C4
  claim: e.g. means for example.
  source: S2
  evidence: "which means \"for example\""

## Sources

- [S1] Use examples. GSA / PlainLanguage.gov archive. https://raw.githubusercontent.com/GSA/plainlanguage.gov/main/_pages/guidelines/conversational/use-examples.md . License: US government work, public domain. Accessed 2026-11-09.

- [S2] Digital.gov style guide. Digital.gov (GSA). https://digital.gov/style-guide/ . License: US government work, public domain. Accessed 2026-11-09.


License: this note is CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Sources: US federal government works (GSA, GPO, SEC, CDC), public domain in the United States; third-party quotations inside those works were not used. Text was condensed and changed from the originals.

---

Agents: [/agents.md](/agents.md) | [/.well-known/agent-library.json](/.well-known/agent-library.json).