i.e. versus e.g.

I admit, I never really knew the difference between i.e. and e.g. before my 30s. My go-to was always to use i.e. by default.

For example, I would say something like, “I am a big fan of citrus fruits (i.e. oranges, limes, tangerines, etc.).”

This is wrong.

All wrong.

It should be, “I am a big fan of citrus fruits (e.g. oranges, limes, tangerines, etc.).”

The difference is in the Latin (which I took for 3 years and somehow didn’t retain this bit of information).

E.g. stands for exempli gratia, a Latin phrase that means “for the sake of example” or how I like to remember it, “for example.”

I.e. stands for id est, which translates to English as “that is to say” or “in other words.”

For example, you might say something like, “I’m really like fruit, i.e., nature’s candy.”

E.g. = For Example

I.g. = In Other Words

Maybe you just learned this today or maybe you already knew. I’m just hoping it doesn’t take others 30+ years to get this type of information.