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Original Post: Technical Documentation: What is the difference between i.e. and e.g.?
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Writing a lot of documentation today, and I'm kind of a grammar dork, so:
A. I.e. means "that is" (to say). E.g. means "for example."
I.e. is an abbreviation for Latin id est, "that is." E.g. is for exempli gratia, "for
the sake of example." So you can say, "I like citrus fruits, e.g., oranges and lemons";
or, "I like citrus fruits, i.e. the juicy, edible fruits with leathery, aromatic rinds
of any of numerous tropical, usually thorny shrubs or trees of the genus Citrus."
In the first sentence you are simply giving an instance of a citrus fruit; in the
second you giving an explanation. E.g. simply indicates an example; i.e. specifies,
explains. Compare: She loves to read non-fiction, e.g., reference books and
how-to books vs. He had one obvious flaw, i.e. his laziness. [Dictionary.com]
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