# I.e./e.g.? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 8, 2001, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-e-e-g/92091 "2001-11-08T00:47:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Philote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@Philote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philote)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-e-e-g/92091/1 "2001-11-08T00:47:17Z")
I’ve seen the abbreviations “i.e.” and “e.g.” used often and interchangeably in various places (i.e. in lectures at school)to, I take it, indicate an example of something. But what do they actually mean? Are they interchangeable, and how should the be used properly? (While we’re at it, how about “et al.”?) Thanks for helping to clear this up! ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-e-e-g/92091/2 "2001-11-08T00:52:50Z")
They’re not used interchangeably. I think [http://www.m-w.com](http://www.m-w.com) will give you the definitions and the full Latin names. They are abbreviations for Latin words. I.e.is Latin for “that is.” E.g. is Latin for “for example.” “Et. al.” is Latin for “and others.” Use i.e., when you are further explaining something. Use e.g., when you’re giving an example. I often see “et al” used after only one item in a series. That is not correct. Also don’t use “and et al” since that is redundant. ---
**Author:** ![Amok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Amok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amok)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-e-e-g/92091/3 "2001-11-08T00:56:39Z")
They’re not interchangable. Both are abbreviations for latin phrases; e.g. for _exempli gratia_ and i.e. for _id est_. e.g. means “for example” and i.e. means “that is”, so you use e.g. to give examples of what you’re discussing, and i.e. to clarify what you’re discussing. ---
**Author:** ![cleops](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@cleops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cleops)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-e-e-g/92091/4 "2001-11-08T01:03:49Z")
And it’s e period g period comma, and i period e period comma ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-e-e-g/92091/5 "2001-11-08T02:32:43Z")
etc.: _Et Cetera_, and so on, and other things. i.e.: _Id Est_, that is. (Often used before clarification on a point.) q.v.: _Quod Vide_, which see. (Used after a subject to which the reader is additionally referred.) et al. _Et Allii, Et Alia_, and other people, other things. cf.: _Confer_, compare. (Used to draw the reader’s attention to a point of comparrison.) viz.: _Videlicet_, namely, that is to say. (Used to elaborate.) N.B.: _Nota Bene_, note well, carefully. e.g.: _Exempli Gratia_, for example, for instance. c.: _Circa_, about, approximately. And probably lots more. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-e-e-g/92091/6 "2001-11-08T03:09:48Z")
For some reason this quote from _Get Shorty_ got stuck in my mind (but not enough to memorize it, it was quoted on IMDB): **Ray Barboni:** Let me explain something to you. Momo is dead. Which means everything he had now belongs to Jimmy Cap, including you. Which also means, when I speak, I speak for Jimmy. E.g., from now on, you start showing me the proper fuckin’ respect. **Chili Palmer:** “E.g.” means “for example”. What I think you want to use is “i.e.”. **Ray Barboni:** Bullshit! That’s short for “ergo”. Chili Palmer: Ask your man. **Bodyguard:** To the best of my knowledge, “e.g.” means “for example”. **Ray Barboni:** E.g., i.e., fuck you! The point is this: When I say “jump”, you say “OK”, okay? ---
**Author:** ![Michele\_in\_SoCal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Michele\_in\_SoCal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michele_in_SoCal)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-e-e-g/92091/7 "2001-11-08T03:56:06Z")
When I was a kid I remembered i.e. and e.g. this way: i.e. = “in ether” words e.g. = egzample …I kinda still do! ---
**Author:** ![Dignan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-e-e-g/92091/8 "2001-11-08T04:14:00Z")
Well, you learn something new every day! I always thought “i.e.,” and “e.g.,” were latin abbreviations for “I’m smarter than you.” ---
**Author:** ![Philote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@Philote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philote)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-e-e-g/92091/9 "2001-11-08T06:06:11Z")
Ok, so it should have been “e.g., in lectures at school, posts on SDMB, etc.” 🙂 Thanks for all the help! One more question inspired by Attrayant’s list: are “etc.” and “et al.” used differently, or are they interchangeable? ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-e-e-g/92091/10 "2001-11-08T09:17:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by barbitu8 \* > **I often see “et al” used after only one item in a series. That is not correct.** Are you sure? When referencing multiple authors, is it not correct to say (Bakunin et al., 1927)? I don’t have any style guides here to check, but I never heard this rule before. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-e-e-g/92091/11 "2001-11-08T10:16:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hibernicus \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by barbitu8 \* > > **I often see “et al” used after only one item in a series. That is not correct.** > > Are you sure? When referencing multiple authors, is it not correct to say (Bakunin et al., 1927)? > I don’t have any style guides here to check, but I never heard this rule before. \*\* I’d say that that **is** the exact situation when you should use it. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-e-e-g/92091/12 "2001-11-08T14:42:26Z")
et al is latin for “and others” so technically you could use it after just one thing, but it’s kinda vague, _e.g.,_ bananas, et al. Other what? Fruit? Yellow things? Phallic objects? Monkey food? Slippery thing? ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-e-e-g/92091/13 "2001-11-08T14:43:08Z")
In the law, et al is used after the first name in a series. I vaguely remember my high school english teacher telling us to cite collectively-written works of literature or criticism by the first two names and _then_ et al, but that was a long time ago and my memory may be faulty. I don’t think etc. and et al are interchangeable. Etc. is used specifically with things, et al primarily with people. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-e-e-g/92091/14 "2001-11-08T14:53:07Z")
What about _Q.E.D._? ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-e-e-g/92091/15 "2001-11-08T15:00:09Z")
What about it? It means that which was to be proved, if that’s your question. You append that after proving a proposition, usually syllogistically or in mathematical proofs. ---
**Author:** ![Popup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@Popup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Popup)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-e-e-g/92091/16 "2001-11-08T15:25:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Whack-a-Mole \* > \*\*What about _Q.E.D._? \*\* **Q** uantum **E** lectro **D** ynamics? **Q** uad **E** rat b]D\*\*emonstrandum? Come on, that’s even in Merriam-Webster’s. Doesn’t anyone do the homework anymore? ---
**Author:** ![Popup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@Popup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Popup)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-e-e-g/92091/17 "2001-11-08T15:27:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tc \* > \*\*Quad Erat b]Demonstrandum? > Doesn’t anyone do the homework anymore? \*\* Some people don’t even re-read what they write! I did preview, but what good is that, if you don’t pay attention. ---
**Author:** ![DopeyDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@DopeyDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DopeyDave)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2001, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-e-e-g/92091/18 "2001-11-09T01:02:39Z")
I thought everyone knew that QED means Quite Easily Done. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2001, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-e-e-g/92091/19 "2001-11-09T04:23:09Z")
\*Letters on his back I. N. R. I.? No: I. H. S. Molly told me one time I asked her. I have sinned: or no: I have suffered, it is. And the other one? Iron nails ran in. —James Joyce, _Ulysses_ 😉 [sub]Of course, Bloom here is pondering completely erroneous explanations for the Latin initialisms he saw on the priest’s vestments. Probably no one here will need them spelled out, but just in case: _Iesus Hominorum Salvator_ (Jesus the Savior of Men) and _Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum_ (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews).[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2001, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-e-e-g/92091/20 "2001-11-09T04:31:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Floater \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by hibernicus \* > > \*\* > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > \*Originally posted by barbitu8 \* > > > **I often see “et al” used after only one item in a series. That is not correct.** > > > > Are you sure? When referencing multiple authors, is it not correct to say (Bakunin et al., 1927)? > > I don’t have any style guides here to check, but I never heard this rule before. \*\* > > I’d say that that **is** the exact situation when you should use it. \*\* I work in medical research. I use et al. every day. It’s _ALWAYS_ used to start a list. e.g. W.C. Cole et al. (2001) Endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factors… \*Circ.Res.\*12:223-226. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-e-e-g/92091.md?page=2)