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Subject:Re: Correct usage "i.e." and "e.g." ? From:Tracy Boyington <tracy_boyington -at- OKVOTECH -dot- ORG> Date:Wed, 6 May 1998 11:07:43 -0500
> Would you mind giving me your impression of the 'correct' usage of these=20
> abbreviations ?
According to "An Incomplete Education" (Jones/Wilson)...
e.g. For when you're about to give (or be given) a bunch of examples:
"citrus fruits, e.g., orange, lemon, lime." Does not guarantee
completeness of list (no grapefruit, for instance, above). Short for
_exempli gratia_, "for the sake of the example."
i.e. For when you're about to explain (or have explained to you) the
nature of something: "citrus fruits, i.e., those from trees of the
family _Citrus_, with an inedible rind, juicy flesh, usually in
segments, and a high vitamin C content." Short for _id est_, "that is."
More authoritative, less chatty than e.g.
Tracy
who doesn't use them as a technical writer, but occasionally likes to
know what they mean as one of those useless liberal arts majors
--
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Tracy Boyington mailto:tracy_boyington -at- okvotech -dot- org
Oklahoma Dept. of Vocational & Technical Education
Stillwater, OK, USA http://www.okvotech.org/cimc/home.htm
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