What’s the Difference Between “i.e.” and “e.g.”?

Published on June 11, 2025 by Gina Rancaño, BA

You’ve probably come across the abbreviations “i.e.” and “e.g.”, but do you know what they stand for? We’ll go over what “i.e.” and “e.g.” mean and how to use them in a sentence.

What Do “e.g.” and “i.e.” Stand for?
E.g. and i.e. are both abbreviations for Latin expressions. E.g. stands for “exempli gratia,” which translates to “for the sake of the example.” I.e. stands for “Id est,” which translates to “that is.” E.g. is used to give examples, whereas i.e. is used for elaboration.

  • She loved reaching her destination by different means of travel (e.g., planes, trains, taxis, and subways).
  • She always took the long route to get to her destination (i.e., instead of taking the expressway to downtown, she took the back roads to enjoy the scenery).

“e.g.” vs. “i.e”

E.g. and i.e. are two abbreviations that are commonly used in written English. They can be extremely useful while writing, as they help keep your text clear and concise.

However, e.g. and i.e. can’t be used interchangeably. Below, we’ll go over what e.g. and i.e. stand for and show you how to use them in your writing correctly.

Continue reading: What’s the Difference Between “i.e.” and “e.g.”?