The English Oracle

How are "i.e." and "e.g." pronounced?

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Track title: Melt

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Chapters
00:00 How Are &Quot;I.E.&Quot; And &Quot;E.G.&Quot; Pronounced?
00:12 Answer 1 Score 24
00:27 Accepted Answer Score 281
00:54 Answer 3 Score 11
01:12 Answer 4 Score 127
01:20 Thank you

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Full question
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Tags
#pronunciation #abbreviations #latin #initialisms

#avk47



ACCEPTED ANSWER

Score 281


i.e. stands for id est (Latin), which means "that is". You use it to link in a deeper explanation about something. Pronounce it "eye - ee".

e.g. stands for exempli gratia (also Latin), which means "for example". You use it to link in an example of a more generic term. Pronounce it "ee - jee"




ANSWER 2

Score 127


For i.e. I usually say "that is", occasionally "eye-ee".

For e.g. I always say "for example".




ANSWER 3

Score 24


Just pronounce the letters: "Eye eee" and "eee gee".

I have never met anyone who actually said "id est" and "exempli gratia", which is what they really stand for.




ANSWER 4

Score 11


I can't believe this wasn't addressed in the Oatmeal Comic but I usually say the letters or replace it with "for example" (and now, thanks to the comic, I'll replace it with "in other words" instead and use e.g. when I mean "for example").