How to Write e.g. (Examples and Worksheet)

Last Updated May 24, 2025

Elan Yash

Elan is head of design and tech. He's also a contributor at Grammarflex.

What Does e.g. Mean?

The abbreviation e.g. means “for example”. It’s an easy way to write ‘for example’, and makes it clear that an example is about to be given.

E.g. stands for the Latin words exempli gratia (translates to “for the sake of example”).

When to Use e.g. in Writing?

Hopefully, it goes without being explicitly stated that we write (or say the words) “for example” whenever we’re about to introduce an example; this makes it clear to the reader that the following information is an example.

‍Likewise, you would use e.g. in writing the same as you would “for example” in English: to introduce an example, or a few examples. See examples in action:

Should that happen to poor, as-yet unaffected places (e.g., most of South Asia and Africa) the suffering can be great.—“WHO rejects calls to move Olympics over Zika fears”

There’s a common view that Malcolm Turnbull’s ‘30-minute city’ is yet another slight variation on the many terms we already have for a more sustainable urban form e.g., a compact city, walkable city, smart growth, new urbanism, urban consolidation.—“Is Turnbull’s ’30-minute city’ a serious election issue?”

E.g. and I.e.?

I.e. stands for the Latin words id est, meaning “in other words” or “that is to say”: “That is (to say)” in the sense of “that means” and “which means”, or “in other words”, “namely”, or sometimes “in this case”, depending on the context. (Wikipedia)

Here’s a quick trick to remember the difference:

E.g. = Example

I.e. = In essence

In other words, for ‘e.g.‘, think capital E for Example. For i.e., think ‘in essence’ (a synonym for phrases ‘in other words,’ or ‘that is to say’).

How to write e.g. and i.e.

Lowercase or not?

Both abbreviations use lowercase.

Italics or not?

‍Abbreviations do not need to be italicized. If you are spelling out the entire Latin phrase, it should be stylized in italics. Otherwise, it’s suggested that they be written in regular font.

Periods or not?

We use periods to indicate that the term is an abbreviation, so use periods after each letter: i.e., and e.g.

Commas or not?

Most American style guides recommend including a comma after both abbreviations; British style does not. If you’re American, include a comma after using either shortened form in writing. Otherwise, it’s okay to omit the periods.

How to use e.g. in sentences and text

1. Let’s look at some important dates in American history—e.g., July 4, 1776.

2. I collect the works of many poets (e.g., Dickinson, Frost, Angelou).

3. If you’re worried about a house full of dog hair, remember there are many non-shedding breeds—e.g., silky terriers, Basenjis, and Lhasa apsos.

4. I’ve got no food restrictions, but some things I’d sooner not eat, e.g., oysters.

5. The most applauded moments were her soliloquies—e.g., at the end of Scene 1.

1. Our son’s adorable pound puppy is my favorite breed —i.e., a mutt!

2. The critics called the performance “scintillating” and “dazzling”—i.e., they loved it.

3. There’s only one way I don’t like my potatoes prepared, i.e., boiled.

4. They spent their last day at camp enjoying their two favorite activities, i.e., swimming and zip-lining.

5. Our writers do a lot of research to avoid anachronisms—i.e., those errors that confuse the times of our stories with later times in history.

In review

E.g. stands for the Latin words exempli gratia directly translates to “for the sake of an example.” For example, it is used in writing and text to introduce an example or a few examples in a list.

The e.g. abbreviation is completely different from i.e., which is also Latin and stands for id est. I.e. means “in other words” or “that is to say”, and is included in writing when the following information is meant to elaborate or clarify whatever was previously mentioned.