Can you give me a quick rundown of the proper usage of these, and their full names in latin? I could Google it, but i’d prefer a human response on this one.
e.g. is “exempli gratia” and means “for example”
i.e. is “id est” and means “that is”
There are many Latin abbreviations in common English usage (e.g. “pro bono”).
I’m sure there will be simulposts to this thread, i.e. many people posting at once.
If you said, “There are many Latin abbreviations in common English usage, _________ pro bono,” which phrase fits, “for example,” or “that is”? For example, which is why you use e.g. instead of i.e. Same with the second example.
In short, just use e.g. if you’re giving examples, and use i.e. if you’re just clarifying.
i.e. (id est = that is) is used when defining the word or phrase you have just mentioned, e.g. (exempli gratia - for example) when giving examples of but not a completely inclusive definition of what you have just mentioned.
Auto lights should be turned on at night, i.e., one-half hour after sunset.
If you paint your house a weird color, e.g., turquoise, it may get some stares.
or
If you paint your house a weird color, e.g., turquoise, goldenrod, etc., it may get some stares.
Let’s say you are a fast car. e.g. you are a Ferrari, and your engine overheats.
I was talking to some peusdo-athlete. i.e. A guy who plays golf on Sundays, and visits the driving range once a week.
Just be sure to always use a comma after “i.e.” or “e.g.”. And no spaces between the characters.
Excellent. Is it proper grammer to use them inbetween commas and also at the start of a new sentence?
or more correctly:
Let’s say you are a fast car, e.g., a Ferrari, and your engine overheats.
I was talking to some peusdo-athlete, i.e., guy who plays golf on Sundays, and visits the driving range once a week.
(I don’t mean to be a jerk, but this is one of those pet peeves!)
Yes, in between commas, but not at the start of a sentence. Remember, they are used as a phrase following something you are clarifying, so they will always be somwhere later in the sentence.
OK: “Some people’s habits bother me. For example, when they tailgate in traffic.”
Not OK: “Some people’s habits bother me. E.g., when they tailgate in traffic.” (although very informally spoken, that could be fun 
)
As I understand, here’s how you use them.
e.g. is for when you want to provide an example of what you’re talking about. E.g.:
Some of the greatest baseball players of all time (e.g., Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb) are dead.
i.e. is for when you are identifying the thing you’re talking about. E.g.:
The most populated country in the world (i.e., China) is very large.
I’m sure someone can come up with better examples than I have, but I’m at work.
Personally, I’ve always thought that people who stick Latin abbreviations in an English document are pompous idiots.
If you’re writing in English, stay in English.
It hardly takes any more characters to write “for example” rather than “e. g.”, and you can be sure to be understood.
So IMHO, the “proper usage” of these is not at all!
Here’s how I remember them, and it’s close enough:
e.g. means "example given.
i.e. means "in explanation.
I never write them, myself. I prefer to write in English (or as close as we Yanks can get.) However, other people use them, so I have to remember what they mean.
That’s an interesting perspective. I don’t use them often myself, but see them everywhere!
I’ve always thought it best use them in parentheticals. After all they tend to be parenthetical thoughts (i.e. extraneous). I am probably wrong. I just don’t think the parenthetical gets enough playing time.
eh . . . only a little ironic that we stay away from abreviations like “e.g.” IYHO?
They are English. They may come from Latin roots, but so do many other English words. It’s all part of English now.
Besides, what are we supposed to use in place of AM, PM and AD?
And remember that some folks think it’s all right to split infinitives always or at least sometimes.
Another point, when read aloud, unabbreviate and translate them, e.g.:
Given this sentence:
one should not say aloud
but,
Peace.
[nitpick]
Pro bono is not an abbreviation.
[/nitpick]
Thank you. I’ve been meaning to ask about the use of commas when using those terms for a while now but kept forgetting. The periods kept throwing me off.