What’s The Difference Between “i.e.” And “e.g.”?

What’s the difference between i.e. and e.g.?

They may be small, but their power to befuddle writers and speakers of the English language is mighty.

The term i.e. is a shortening of the Latin expression id est, which translates to “that is.” It is used to introduce a rephrasing or elaboration on something that has already been stated.

The term e.g. is an abbreviation of the Latin expression exempli gratia, meaning “for the sake of example” or more colloquially, “for example.” This term is used to introduce examples of something that has already been stated.

Examples using i.e. and e.g.

Here is an example using i.e.

• “I like citrus fruits, i.e., the juicy, edible fruits with leathery, aromatic rinds.”

In this example, i.e. introduces an elaboration on citrus fruits.

Here is an example using e.g.

•  “I like citrus fruits, e.g., tangerines, lemons, and limes.”

In this example, e.g. introduces examples of citrus fruits.

How do you correctly use i.e. and e.g.?

One easy way to remember the difference between these two abbreviations is by employing a simple mnemonic device: Think of the i at the beginning of i.e. as a stand in for the first word in the phrase “in other words.”

• This indicates that the clause that follows will rephrase or explain the first part of the sentence.

E.g. is a little more straightforward since e stands for exempli meaning “example.”

And, remember that in formal writing, e.g. and i.e. are often set off in parentheses and followed by a comma; in less formal writing, it is standard to place a comma before and after these terms.

Five Tips to Improve Academic and Formal Writing

1. Don’t use contractions. 2. Avoid There is and There are and etc…

“Infamous” vs. “Notorious”: Why Is There A Difference?

Thanks to clicks, likes, and verified blue checkmarks, a person’s reputation can extend far beyond those who know them personally. For example, it’s widely known that Chris Evans is a real-life Captain America who holds doors open for people, and we all acknowledge that Beyoncé is a goddess among us mere mortals.

Some people, though, have a reputation that precedes them in less positive ways. If people break into whispers when a person enters a room or if mentioning a name makes people’s  eyebrows waggle, chances are high that that person is either infamous or notorious for something. But, which is it?

Infamous and notorious are commonly interchanged terms used to describe someone or something that is famous for being negative in some way. While they can sometimes mean the same thing, there are subtle differences between the two terms. There are times when either will work, yet in other cases, one word is a better fit.

What does it mean to be infamous?

First recorded in the 14th century, infamous is an adjective rooted in the Latin infamis, “of ill fame.” We use it to describe a person, place, or thing known for “having an extremely bad reputation.” It can also mean “deserving of or causing an evil reputation, detestable.” Think Cruella De Vil, Voldemort, and your 11th-grade algebra teacher.

People, places, or things can also go down in infamy, getting a super bad rep as the result of a “shameful, criminal or outrageous act.” See also: Fyre Festival.

Remember, just because infamous has the word famous embedded within it doesn’t mean the two go hand in hand. Flipping a table at a family dinner may go down in infamy, winning you the reputation as the cousin with the temper. But, unless your family has their own time slot on Bravo, it won’t make you famous.

What does it mean to be notorious?

Similar to infamous, notorious is an adjective meaning “widely and unfavorably known.” Evidenced in the late 15th century, notorious originally meant “well-known,” true to its ultimate Latin root, notus, meaning “known.”

When you say notorious and its noun form notoriety, it may be clear that they both start with not-, as in note, a word indeed related to notorious. Which makes it easier to remember that identifying someone as notorious is like putting a notice out on them.

The subtle differences between infamy and notoriety

Beyond being used to throw shade, like saying the Kardashians are notorious for drama, notorious can also mean “publicly or generally known, as for a particular trait.” Jack Nicholson is notorious for always wearing sunglasses, a good example of the word being used without as many negative vibes implied.

The real question: Is RBG notorious?

We’ve all heard of The Notorious B.I.G. But, not many people know that the late, great rapper’s nickname was actually self-styled. When Christopher Wallace first started his music career, he performed under the name Biggie Smalls, partially in honor of a character in the 1975 action comedy film Let’s Do It Again. But, already on the scene was another rapper, Biggy Smallz, compelling Wallace to change his moniker to The Notorious B.I.G.—not to mention the threat of copy infringement from Let’s Do It Again. Dubbing yourself notorious? Talk about a money move.

A Supreme Court justice for over 25 years, Ruth Bader Ginsburg earned the nickname Notorious RBG (using her initials to riff on the rapping legend) thanks in part to her ability to write dissenting opinions with more heat than any diss track we’ve ever heard.

In the 2014 case of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., she was joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor (and Justices Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan in part) in a scathing dissent against the majority opinion, which held that the Department of Health and Human Services’ regulations requiring certain employers to provide their female employees with no-cost access to contraception violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

“Approving some religious claims while deeming others unworthy of accommodation could be ‘perceived as favoring one religion over another,’ the ‘very risk the Establishment Clause was designed to preclude’,” they wrote, quoting former Justice John P. Stevens in a previous opinion.

In 2018, RBG joined forces with Justice Sotomayor, this time in a dissent against President Donald Trump’s travel ban against people entering the US from majority-Muslim countries. “The United States of America is a Nation built upon the promise of religious liberty,” they wrote. “Our Founders honored that core promise by embedding the principle of religious neutrality in the First Amendment. The Court’s decision today fails to safeguard that fundamental principle.”

These mic-dropping dissents combined with her legendary ability to hit the gym on the regular in her mid-80s for sure earns RBG her title of being notorious. But, is she also infamous? That depends on what side of history you’re on.

How do you use infamy and notoriety in a sentence?

Plenty of people use the terms infamous and notorious interchangeably, and that’s not necessarily wrong. If who (or what) you’re describing is scandalous, evil, or has some otherwise seriously negative baggage, both infamous and notorious can work.

However, if you’re describing someone who’s well known for something but people’s opinions differ as to whether or not what they did was wrong or bad, notorious is a more nuanced choice. Consider Tom Brady. Between #Deflategate and his proclamations about his unconventional diet, everyone knows who he is, making him clearly notorious. But, only those who booed when the Patriots won the Super Bowl would feel that his refusal to eat tomatoes makes him nefarious enough to be considered infamous.

In a world where fame is just a viral post away, it’s no wonder infamy and notoriety are such popular terms. With just a few clicks, you can become “that” person. Which is why being picky when deciding between the terms infamous and notorious matter.

After all, there’s a big difference between being notorious as an extremely tough algebra teacher or being infamous as a failed luxury musical festival … right?