# Very Strange Pet Peeve **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 21, 2007, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-pet-peeve/404983 "2007-05-21T21:32:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jelymag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jelymag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jelymag)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-pet-peeve/404983/1 "2007-05-21T21:32:58Z")
Another punctuation/grammatically-related issue… This is the strangest thing to rant about, but it drives me **nuts** (seriously) every time I see it misused: The abbreviation **i.e.** _DOES NOT MEAN **IN EXAMPLE**!!_ Thank you, please continue to go about your daily lives now. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-pet-peeve/404983/2 "2007-05-21T21:54:00Z")
What does it mean? I can’t remember how I’ve seen it or how it’s normally used. Sentence please. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-pet-peeve/404983/3 "2007-05-21T21:59:25Z")
Are you saying that’s not what it stands for, or that’s not what it means? As in it stands for something else, but we’re using it properly, or it stands for something else and we’re are using it incorrectly. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-pet-peeve/404983/4 "2007-05-21T22:03:51Z")
[QUOTE=Indygrrl] What does it mean? I can’t remember how I’ve seen it or how it’s normally used. Sentence please. 😃 [/QUOTE] i.e. is the latin _id est_ – “that is.” What follows “i.e.” should be an explanation or clarification of the preceeding, not an example of it. Use it in places that you would otherwise use phrases like “in other words.” ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-pet-peeve/404983/5 "2007-05-21T22:06:36Z")
I.e. stands for “id est” which translates to “that is”. E.g. stands for “exemplia gratia” which translates to “for example”. You use the first when you’re rephrasing or explaining the point of the previous clause, i.e., you state the same thing again differently. You use the second when you’re giving examples, e.g., this sentence. Drives me nuts too. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-pet-peeve/404983/6 "2007-05-21T22:15:01Z")
[QUOTE=Joey P] Are you saying that’s not what it stands for, or that’s not what it means? As in it stands for something else, but we’re using it properly, or it stands for something else and we’re are using it incorrectly. [/QUOTE] Neither. It stands for _id est_ or “that is.” It’s not supposed to be used in conjunction with an example but as a specific clarification or restatement of something in the preceding phrase (The beast that was chasing me was an _ursus maritimus_, i.e., a polar bear"). The convention meaning “for example” is “e.g.” from the Latin _exempli gratia_ (“I am afraid of many animals, e.g., polar bears”). ETA, I see **redtail** got here first. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-pet-peeve/404983/7 "2007-05-21T22:24:51Z")
[QUOTE=Mindfield] i.e. is the latin _id est_ – “that is.” What follows “i.e.” should be an explanation or clarification of the preceeding, not an example of it. Use it in places that you would otherwise use phrases like “in other words.” [/QUOTE] Ok, that’s how I’ve always used it. I just never thought about what it stood for exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-pet-peeve/404983/8 "2007-05-22T04:00:56Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] …The convention meaning “for example” is “e.g.” from the Latin _exempli gratia_ (“I am afraid of many animals, e.g., polar bears”)… [/QUOTE] You’d think so wouldn’t you. However, I can’t tell you the number of times people have insisted that rather than e.g., I meant ex. as an abbreviation of example. No, when I mean e.g., I mean e.g., dammit. ---
**Author:** ![BrattiAtti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@BrattiAtti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrattiAtti)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-pet-peeve/404983/9 "2007-05-22T04:20:10Z")
I thought i.e. stood for internet explorer… 😕😃 ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-pet-peeve/404983/10 "2007-05-22T14:30:35Z")
While we’re at it, “as such” doesn’t mean “therefore.” “As such” means what it says: “because he/she/it (etc) is as specified.” You can’t say “I have completed my translation certificate and as such can now join the professional order.” As such? As what? I haven’t said I _am_ something, I’ve said I’ve _done_ something. It should be, “I have completed my translation certificate and _therefore_ can now join the professional order.” A correct use of “as such” would be, “I am a certified translator and as such can charge higher fees,” meaning, “…and, as a certified translator, can charge…” I see this error all over and it drives me batty. The phrase means exactly what it says! Think for a minute, and don’t just use the phrase because it makes you sound edjumacated. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-pet-peeve/404983/11 "2007-05-22T15:12:51Z")
One is used to further explain a term, (i.e., to expand on it). The other is to give an example (e.g., the sentence above). ---
**Author:** ![zelie\_zelerton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/59ef9b/32.png) [@zelie\_zelerton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zelie_zelerton)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-pet-peeve/404983/12 "2007-05-22T15:25:29Z")
So long as we’re collecting grammatical abominations I’ll just mention ‘of’. As in ‘I should of gone to Aunt Euphemia’s house today’. It’s ‘HAVE’ people! I should HAVE gone… grrrr, I blame the internets, kids these days, in my day we never, education ain’t what it was, PC gone mad… ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-pet-peeve/404983/13 "2007-05-22T18:35:09Z")
[QUOTE=zelie zelerton] So long as we’re collecting grammatical abominations I’ll just mention ‘of’. As in ‘I should of gone to Aunt Euphemia’s house today’. It’s ‘HAVE’ people! I should HAVE gone… grrrr, I blame the internets, kids these days, in my day we never, education ain’t what it was, PC gone mad… [/QUOTE] I’ve only ever heard this spoken, and I think it’s just a dialect thing. They are saying “should’ve” which is supposed to be a contraction of should and have. It’s sort of wrong (I don’t think should’ve is actually a _word_) but it’s not too bad. But, I’m from Mississippi, so maybe my standards are low. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-pet-peeve/404983/14 "2007-05-22T18:38:21Z")
[QUOTE=miss elizabeth] I’ve only ever heard this spoken, and I think it’s just a dialect thing. They are saying “should’ve” which is supposed to be a contraction of should and have. It’s sort of wrong (I don’t think should’ve is actually a _word_) but it’s not too bad. But, I’m from Mississippi, so maybe my standards are low. [/QUOTE] I don’t have a problem with should’ve. It’s people who literally\* write “should of” who drive me nuts. A quick Google search returns 1.6 million usages of “should’ve” and 1.2 million usages of “should of”. Grrr - And no, when I say literally I don’t mean figuratively. ---
**Author:** ![zelie\_zelerton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/59ef9b/32.png) [@zelie\_zelerton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zelie_zelerton)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-pet-peeve/404983/15 "2007-05-22T21:23:23Z")
I don’t mind the contraction. ‘Should’ve’ is perfectly fine when speaking. Just don’t type ‘Should of’ for crying out loud! What is it that they think they are saying? Grrrr. ---
**Author:** ![El\_DeLuxo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_deluxo/32/9043_2.png) [@El\_DeLuxo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_DeLuxo)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-pet-peeve/404983/16 "2007-05-22T22:25:38Z")
I have three. They’re aggervatingly common, seem to be generally _accepted_ by the citizenry, and so unmistakably wrong that they make me want to grab the speaker by the scruff of the neck and scream “DON’T\* **SAY** \*THAT!” whenever I hear them used. To wit: “very unique”. Uniqueness is defined by its singularity. If someone or something is unique, that item or individual is one of a kind. Nothing can be _very_ one of a kind. So, nothing can be “_very unique_”. You would not\* believe\*how many supposedly literate people cannot seem to grasp that. Saying “I could care less” to mean “I couldn’t care less”. There’s only one thing that keeps the phrase as said from meaning its own exact opposite --the former phrase isn’t the opposite of the latter because if you look closely at it, the phrase “I could care less” doesn’t really make any sense. And if it did, it _would_ be the opposite of what was meant! And then…there’s…the…word…“irregardless”. Except there’s no such WORD as “irregardless”. Someonesaid it by accident on some ill-fated and unrecorded day, when s/he meant “regardless”. Others started repeating it under the vastly mistaken notion that “irregardless” was the _smart_ way to say “regardless.” Well, it WASN’T. And it AIN’T. \* And there is no such goddamn word as irregardless and when people use it like it WAS a word they sound STOOOOOPID and drive us literate people **FREAKIN’ BATSHIT!** \* What did the mother tongue ever do to these people, anyway? . ---
**Author:** ![Agonist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@Agonist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agonist)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-pet-peeve/404983/17 "2007-05-22T23:42:13Z")
[QUOTE=Jelymag] Another punctuation/grammatically-related issue… This is the strangest thing to rant about, but it drives me **nuts** (seriously) every time I see it misused: The abbreviation **i.e.** _DOES NOT MEAN **IN EXAMPLE**!!_ Thank you, please continue to go about your daily lives now. [/QUOTE] I never really got this straight until I saw a [Rhymes with Orange](http://www.rhymeswithorange.com/) strip that was not particularly funny but \*was \*very useful. It said (paraphrasing here): "i.e: **i** n **e** ther words “e.g: for **eg** sample” I haven’t gotten them mixed up since. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-pet-peeve/404983/18 "2007-05-23T00:08:47Z")
[QUOTE=DLuxN8R-13] I have three. They’re aggervatingly common, seem to be generally _accepted_ by the citizenry, and so unmistakably wrong that they make me want to grab the speaker by the scruff of the neck and scream “DON’T\* **SAY** \*THAT!” whenever I hear them used. **To wit:** “very unique” . . .; “I could care less” . . .; “irregardless”. . . . [/QUOTE] Would it be correct to “E.g.” here? ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-strange-pet-peeve/404983/19 "2007-05-23T00:09:23Z")
You’re bitching about people WRITING it? How about people SAYING it? For example: “American cars, IE Fords, just aren’t what they used to be.” I work with people who say this and do the double-quote thing with their fingers (also an incorrect use of punctuation in most cases) in mid sentence.