How to Cut Down On the Use of "e.g." in Your Academic Writing (2024)

FAQs

Is eg acceptable in academic writing? ›

The abbreviations 'e.g.' and 'i.e.' are common in academic writing, and they can be useful in many contexts.

E.g. and i.e. are both lowercase when they show up in the middle of a sentence (i.e., like this). Most American style guides recommend a period after both letters in both abbreviations. In general, you add a comma after e.g. and between each subsequent example if there is more than one item in your list.

eg, etc and ie

Instead use 'for example' or 'such as' or 'like' or 'including' - whichever works best in the specific context. 'etc' can usually be avoided. Try using 'for example' or 'such as' or 'including'.

In academic writing, we recommend using it only in parentheses and writing out 'for example' in full in the main part of a sentence. Overuse of abbreviations, although it saves space, can make your sentences look messy.

Do not use shortened verb forms (contractions), such as they're, isn't, can't. Do not use common vocabulary, such as have got, a lot, nice, the other thing. Make more formal vocabulary choices, e.g. have found,a great deal , attractive/ advantageous, the other issue/problem/notion/idea/topic etc..

Examples include slang, clichés, and qualifiers that are commonly used in spoken English. Examples include qualifiers like "really" and "surely" or clichés like "read between the lines." While these words are appropriate for conversations, they are inappropriate for academic writing.

and eg are all acceptable. But confusingly, it lists only i.e. (not ie or ie.), which makes no sense. In short: you can write etc, ie and eg with or without full stops. But make sure you pick one style for all abbreviations and stick to it.

Thus, if you want to give a list of examples within parentheses, use the abbreviation “e.g.,” (including the comma) before the examples. If the words “for example” appear outside of parentheses, do not use the abbreviation “e.g.”

When the “e.g.” passage falls at the end of the sentence, you can either enclose it in parentheses or set it off with a comma before “e.g.” But as before, if “e.g.” introduces an independent clause, use a semicolon because it's likely you've formed another compound sentence.

If you feel uncertain try substituting 'that is' for i.e., or 'for example' for e.g.; if your sentence still makes sense you've used the right one.

Can I use eg on a resume? ›

When listing more than one item, such as a set of skills on a resume , you can use e.g. to introduce the examples. You may also use e.g. to list a few items from a list rather than writing out the entire list.

Both are appropriate as space savers in formal and technical writing, but a bit stilted or pretentious in informal or relaxed prose. “I.e.” stands for “id est,” which is Latin for “that is,” or “in other words.” It is used to introduce a rephrasing or clarification of the original statement.

e.g. is the abbreviation for the Latin phrase exempli gratia, meaning “for example.” This abbreviation is typically used to introduce one or more examples of something mentioned previously in the sentence and can be used interchangeably with “for example” or “such as.” The use of e.g. implies that there are other ...

As stated above, e.g. is short for “for example.” The easiest way to remember this one is that it starts with an “e” and so does “example.” Here's how to use for example (e.g.) in a sentence: “There are many types of trees (e.g., spruce, oak, maple) in the study area.”

When writing, it is generally better to use more specific and descriptive words instead of the word "like". Some alternatives to consider include "such as", "including", "for example", "as an illustration", or simply listing the examples without any introductory phrase.

"E.g." is an abbreviation for the Latin "exempli gratia", which means "for example". The abbreviation is fairly common in "advanced" writing, like theses, in my experience. However, it's an other-language abbreviation, so it's a small hurdle for some.

For example, using contractions in academic writing, such as a research paper, is usually not encouraged because it can make your writing sound informal. In writing situations that are informal, such as blog posts or personal narratives, using contractions is acceptable, unless your professor states otherwise.

Within the text of a sentence, write out the equivalent words rather than using a Latin abbreviation (i.e., e.g., etc.). APA recommends only using Latin abbreviations within parentheses.