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Loosey-Goosey Latin

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As promised, this week’s grammar post will take up the cause of proper usage of “i.e.” and “e.g.” as well as “etc.” and its overlooked cousin, “et al.” 

Prepare to be bored.

The “i.e. vs. e.g.” confusion was never a problem for the Romans.  That’s probably because they knew what these abbreviations originally meant!  The “i” and “e” of “i.e.” literally stand for “id est” … which is, simply, “it is.”  Easy!  You use “i.e.” when you mean to say, “in other words;” i.e., you are about to clarify your previous statement.  (See how I slipped that in?)

Good old “e.g.” is Latin for “exempli gratia” – it’s shorthand for, “for example.”  The best way to use “e.g.” is when you want to provide at least one example of what could easily be a longer list.  So, say you’re describing all of your favorite marketing techniques, e.g., direct mail and search engine optimization… You could have also listed a dozen other favored programs, but a couple of examples sufficed.  So you used “e.g.”

To sum up: use “i.e.” when you mean, “in other words.”  Use “e.g.” when you want to say, “for example.”

There are lots of places on the Web to learn such things.  I got the best info on the “i.e. vs. e.g.” issue from About.com.

Now, on to “etc.” and “et al.” 

“Etc.” means “and so forth,” or, “and other such things.”  When you’re using “etc.” you’re telling your readers that “this list (of items, concepts, etc.) could go on and on, but you get the gist.”  (Again, see how easily these ancient expressions slip into our modern writing?  Did you even catch it?  It’s been happening throughout this post.)

You can also spell it out: “et cetera.”  What you don’t want to ever do is precede “etc.” with an “and.”  That would be redundant.

“Et al” is trickier, which is why it is less frequently used.  It’s often unwittingly bumped aside by our friend “etc.” 

“Et al” means, “and others.”  It’s most often used when signifying a list of people related in some way, e.g., “Who’s on the Blogosphere’s A-List? You’ll often hear names like Scoble, Arrington, Rubel, et al.”  See how “etc.” could have easily taken the place of poor, misunderstood “et al?” 

Phew! 

While I am thankfully tapped-out on Latin stuff, I do have ideas for at least a couple more of these types of posts.  But, if you want to see this series continue any further, gang, please leave your own pet peeves in the Comments section.  Thanks!

Posted by Todd Defren on June 27, 2008 10:15 AM | Permalink

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