ie (e.g.)

[RigaMortus2]

(Just for fun)

I use this abbreviation a lot. And it got me thinking. I know how/why/when you use it, but what does it really mean? Where did this abbreviation come from? So...

What does the abbreviation 'ie' mean?

Id Est

Directly translated, it means "It is" or "That is".

Generally, it's used to mean "That is to say" or "for example".

However, "for example" is not the correct translation. It is commonly misused/misinterpreted, possibly being thought of as "in example". "For example" should be used as "e.g." (exempli gratia).


From wikipedia:

id est (i.e.) "it is" "That is (to say)", or sometimes "in this case", depending on the context. Never equivalent to exempli gratia (e.g.).[1]

Id est, i.e., "that is", is commonly abbreviated "i.e.".

 

[kenobi65]

I find it helps to think of "i.e." to mean, "in other words". I reserve "e.g." for "for example."

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

Don't forget n.b., q.v., et cetera.

 

[shilsen]

I find it helps to think of "i.e." to mean, "in other words". I reserve "e.g." for "for example."

What he said. I use "i.e." when I'm about to add some clarification to the preceding statement, whereas "e.g." is for when I'm about to provide an example.

 

[Pbartender]

e.g. >>> exempli gratia, "by the grace of example"

 

[fuindordm]

The abbreviation "i.e." can be used anywhere you would write "that is", and should always be followed by a comma.

 

[Nifft]

What he said. I use "i.e." when I'm about to add some clarification to the preceding statement, whereas "e.g." is for when I'm about to provide an example.

"I get a +2 circumstance bonus on certain checks this morning (e.g. Knowledge: your mom) thanks to my activities last night (i.e.: I banged your mom)."

Cheers, -- N

 

[HelloChristian]

The 1st edition AD&D books were full of those abbreviations. I had no idea what they meant when I was younger. And I still don't....

 

[Cheiromancer]

Then there's viz, from videlicet, from videre licet. When you read it aloud it is pronounced "namely".

 

[Hairfoot]

et cetera.

And never pronounced "ekcetra".

And, without thread-jacking, when did "hierarchy" start to mean only the top tier of a group? The word is totally unrelated to "higher".