e.g.

What it means

e.g. stands for the Latin 'exempli gratia,' meaning 'for example.' Use it to introduce one or more examples of a larger category. It is not the same as i.e. — e.g. gives examples, while i.e. restates or clarifies.

Words like “e.g.” are exactly the kind of vocabulary our English vocabulary size test measures — find out how many English words you know.

Examples

• Bring something to write with, e.g. a pen or pencil.
• Pack for warm weather, e.g. shorts and sandals.
• Citrus fruits, e.g. oranges and lemons, are high in vitamin C.
• Choose a bright color, e.g. red or yellow.

Where it comes from

From Latin 'exempli gratia' ('for the sake of example'). In careful writing it's lowercase with two periods, and many style guides follow it with a comma.

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