What Does E.G. Mean? - Garage Clarity

Pronunciation

/ɛɡzˈɑːmpleɪ/

Part of Speech

Abbreviation

Definition

An abbreviation for the Latin phrase “exempli gratia”, meaning “for example”. It is used to provide an illustration or an instance of something.

Examples

I love reading books, e.g. novels and poetry.
The restaurant serves a variety of dishes, e.g. pasta, pizza, and salads.

Synonyms

i.e.
For instance

Antonyms

However
In contrast

Additional Information

e.g. is often used in written communication, such as academic papers, articles, and formal letters. It helps to clarify and provide specific examples to support an argument or explanation. In informal writing, such as social media or text messages, it is common to use “for example” instead of e.g.

e.g. is not to be confused with i.e., which stands for “id est” and means “that is to say”. i.e. is used to provide a clarification or a definition, whereas e.g. is used to provide an illustration.

Etymology

The abbreviation e.g. comes from the Latin phrase “exempli gratia”, which literally means “for the sake of example”. It has been used in English language since the 16th century.

Usage Notes

When using e.g., it is essential to provide a relevant example that supports the sentence or argument. Avoid using e.g. excessively, as it can make the text appear cluttered and unclear.

Cultural References

e.g. has been used in various forms of media, such as academic papers, educational resources, and online articles. It is a common abbreviation in formal and informal writing.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

There are no idiomatic expressions or phrases that use e.g. in a figurative sense.

Related Words or Phrases

i.e.
For example
Such as

Collocations

e.g. in a sentence
e.g. in a list
e.g. to illustrate

Frequency of Use

e.g. is commonly used in formal writing, such as academic papers and educational resources. It is less common in informal writing, where “for example” is often preferred.

Common Misspellings

eg
ex gratia
exmpli gratia