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Using “e.g.” instead of “for example”

Using 'e.g.' in place of 'for example'What is the rule for shortening people's names? (E.g. Michael → Mike)Using a tilde with currencyCan e.g. be used in the end of a sentence in place of “for example”?Punctuation using e.g. (or i.e.) and lists of examplesUsing “since” instead of “because”“a 100” vs “100”Should one use “of” when abbreviating “number of…” using “no.”?e.g. and i.e. in the middle of a sentenceCan I use double negative in the following structure: “not that…”?Using 'e.g.' in place of 'for example'

.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;

2

1

I am reviewing a software manual, and I frequently come across sentences like (made-up example):

The value is 1, but you can set it to e.g. 100

It seems to me that the use of "e.g." is wrong in this case and "for example" should be used instead. I have difficulty expressing why I feel this way, but if you take the meaning of "e.g." to be "for the sake of example" it seems to me that the general case is not explicitly specified (what is 100 an example of?).

I think it should be either

The value is 1, but you can set it to another value, e.g. 100.

or

The value is 1, but you can set it to for example 100.

Does anyone know if my intuition is right (I'm not a native speaker), or whether or not there are any formal rules to this?

grammar formality abbreviations latin

share|improve this question

edited Apr 21 '15 at 11:48

Tushar Raj

18.9k964114

asked Apr 21 '15 at 11:33

Gerhard BurgerGerhard Burger

11314

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  In a software manual I don't see how using e.g. like that (or even eg) is unacceptable (though I'd add appropriate commas). If e.g. is taken by the vast majority of people to mean "for example" there's no reason why it cannot be used in that sense even in your sentences. Understand that a slightly telegraphic style is usual in such documents.
  
  – Hot Licks
  Apr 21 '15 at 11:50
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2

1

I am reviewing a software manual, and I frequently come across sentences like (made-up example):

The value is 1, but you can set it to e.g. 100

It seems to me that the use of "e.g." is wrong in this case and "for example" should be used instead. I have difficulty expressing why I feel this way, but if you take the meaning of "e.g." to be "for the sake of example" it seems to me that the general case is not explicitly specified (what is 100 an example of?).

I think it should be either

The value is 1, but you can set it to another value, e.g. 100.

or

The value is 1, but you can set it to for example 100.

Does anyone know if my intuition is right (I'm not a native speaker), or whether or not there are any formal rules to this?

grammar formality abbreviations latin

share|improve this question

edited Apr 21 '15 at 11:48

Tushar Raj

18.9k964114

asked Apr 21 '15 at 11:33

Gerhard BurgerGerhard Burger

11314

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  In a software manual I don't see how using e.g. like that (or even eg) is unacceptable (though I'd add appropriate commas). If e.g. is taken by the vast majority of people to mean "for example" there's no reason why it cannot be used in that sense even in your sentences. Understand that a slightly telegraphic style is usual in such documents.
  
  – Hot Licks
  Apr 21 '15 at 11:50
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

I am reviewing a software manual, and I frequently come across sentences like (made-up example):

The value is 1, but you can set it to e.g. 100

It seems to me that the use of "e.g." is wrong in this case and "for example" should be used instead. I have difficulty expressing why I feel this way, but if you take the meaning of "e.g." to be "for the sake of example" it seems to me that the general case is not explicitly specified (what is 100 an example of?).

I think it should be either

The value is 1, but you can set it to another value, e.g. 100.

or

The value is 1, but you can set it to for example 100.

Does anyone know if my intuition is right (I'm not a native speaker), or whether or not there are any formal rules to this?

grammar formality abbreviations latin

share|improve this question

edited Apr 21 '15 at 11:48

Tushar Raj

18.9k964114

asked Apr 21 '15 at 11:33

Gerhard BurgerGerhard Burger

11314

share|improve this question

edited Apr 21 '15 at 11:48

Tushar Raj

18.9k964114

asked Apr 21 '15 at 11:33

Gerhard BurgerGerhard Burger

11314

share|improve this question

edited Apr 21 '15 at 11:48

Tushar Raj

18.9k964114

asked Apr 21 '15 at 11:33

Gerhard BurgerGerhard Burger

11314

edited Apr 21 '15 at 11:48

Tushar Raj

18.9k964114

edited Apr 21 '15 at 11:48

Tushar Raj

18.9k964114

asked Apr 21 '15 at 11:33

Gerhard BurgerGerhard Burger

11314

asked Apr 21 '15 at 11:33

Gerhard BurgerGerhard Burger

11314

3 Answers
3

active

oldest

votes

2

Your hunch is right. The given statement is wrong.

The value is 1, but you can set it to another value, e.g. 100.

is correct.

The value is 1, but you can set it, for example, to 100.

The preposition was a bit off, but correct otherwise

It should be noted that e.g. is more commonly used with lists of examples.

As in:

life events (e.g. birth, death and marriage)

Sources - Wiktionary, Oxford, M-W

share|improve this answer

edited May 25 '18 at 17:03

AmE speaker

4,43821546

answered Apr 21 '15 at 11:43

Tushar RajTushar Raj

18.9k964114

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I'd like to point out that most established style guides (including the Chicago Manual of Style, Columbia Guide to Standard American English, The Guide to Grammar and Writing, et al.) prefer or require the use of a comma after e.g., regardless of whether parentheses or commas are used. See this link for a few more guides and a potential caveats.
  
  – AWMoore
  Apr 21 '15 at 21:04
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  While I agree with the style or response, I do not believe those sources correctly justify it. Can you name a reputable style guide or dictionary that backs it up, or elaborates on why the use of '.e.g' in this case is wrong?
  
  – Ivan Perez
  May 24 '18 at 21:37
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I am not sure why editing someone answer to materially change it should ever be approved.
  
  – AmE speaker
  May 25 '18 at 17:04
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

1

I see nothing wrong with that usage. However, most style guides for technical documentation (e.g. Microsoft: "Don't use. Use for example instead.") say that abbreviations like this shouldn't be use. The reason being that many people do not understand these abbreviations, (I have seen i.e. used instead of e.g. and vice-versa many times.)

share|improve this answer

answered May 25 '18 at 13:48

user184130

add a comment | 

0

Formal writing

You should at least follow the structure:

…you can set it to another value, e.g., 100.

Note the placement of the commas above, which would be the same if you wrote "for example" instead.

However, style guides such as APA only permit the use of abbreviations like this ("i.e.", "cf." and so on) inside parentheses:

...you can set it to another value (e.g., 100).

Informal writing

There is little wrong with

...you can set it to e.g. 100

and this usage may be preferred for the sake of brevity. I would still put a comma before "e.g." though.

share|improve this answer

answered 32 mins ago

binaryfuntbinaryfunt

1248

add a comment | 

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2

Your hunch is right. The given statement is wrong.

The value is 1, but you can set it to another value, e.g. 100.

is correct.

The value is 1, but you can set it, for example, to 100.

The preposition was a bit off, but correct otherwise

It should be noted that e.g. is more commonly used with lists of examples.

As in:

life events (e.g. birth, death and marriage)

Sources - Wiktionary, Oxford, M-W

share|improve this answer

edited May 25 '18 at 17:03

AmE speaker

4,43821546

answered Apr 21 '15 at 11:43

Tushar RajTushar Raj

18.9k964114

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I'd like to point out that most established style guides (including the Chicago Manual of Style, Columbia Guide to Standard American English, The Guide to Grammar and Writing, et al.) prefer or require the use of a comma after e.g., regardless of whether parentheses or commas are used. See this link for a few more guides and a potential caveats.
  
  – AWMoore
  Apr 21 '15 at 21:04
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  While I agree with the style or response, I do not believe those sources correctly justify it. Can you name a reputable style guide or dictionary that backs it up, or elaborates on why the use of '.e.g' in this case is wrong?
  
  – Ivan Perez
  May 24 '18 at 21:37
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I am not sure why editing someone answer to materially change it should ever be approved.
  
  – AmE speaker
  May 25 '18 at 17:04
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2

Your hunch is right. The given statement is wrong.

The value is 1, but you can set it to another value, e.g. 100.

is correct.

The value is 1, but you can set it, for example, to 100.

The preposition was a bit off, but correct otherwise

It should be noted that e.g. is more commonly used with lists of examples.

As in:

life events (e.g. birth, death and marriage)

Sources - Wiktionary, Oxford, M-W

share|improve this answer

edited May 25 '18 at 17:03

AmE speaker

4,43821546

answered Apr 21 '15 at 11:43

Tushar RajTushar Raj

18.9k964114

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I'd like to point out that most established style guides (including the Chicago Manual of Style, Columbia Guide to Standard American English, The Guide to Grammar and Writing, et al.) prefer or require the use of a comma after e.g., regardless of whether parentheses or commas are used. See this link for a few more guides and a potential caveats.
  
  – AWMoore
  Apr 21 '15 at 21:04
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  While I agree with the style or response, I do not believe those sources correctly justify it. Can you name a reputable style guide or dictionary that backs it up, or elaborates on why the use of '.e.g' in this case is wrong?
  
  – Ivan Perez
  May 24 '18 at 21:37
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I am not sure why editing someone answer to materially change it should ever be approved.
  
  – AmE speaker
  May 25 '18 at 17:04
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

Your hunch is right. The given statement is wrong.

The value is 1, but you can set it to another value, e.g. 100.

is correct.

The value is 1, but you can set it, for example, to 100.

The preposition was a bit off, but correct otherwise

It should be noted that e.g. is more commonly used with lists of examples.

As in:

life events (e.g. birth, death and marriage)

Sources - Wiktionary, Oxford, M-W

share|improve this answer

edited May 25 '18 at 17:03

AmE speaker

4,43821546

answered Apr 21 '15 at 11:43

Tushar RajTushar Raj

18.9k964114

share|improve this answer

edited May 25 '18 at 17:03

AmE speaker

4,43821546

answered Apr 21 '15 at 11:43

Tushar RajTushar Raj

18.9k964114

edited May 25 '18 at 17:03

AmE speaker

4,43821546

edited May 25 '18 at 17:03

AmE speaker

4,43821546

answered Apr 21 '15 at 11:43

Tushar RajTushar Raj

18.9k964114

answered Apr 21 '15 at 11:43

Tushar RajTushar Raj

18.9k964114

0

Formal writing

You should at least follow the structure:

…you can set it to another value, e.g., 100.

Note the placement of the commas above, which would be the same if you wrote "for example" instead.

However, style guides such as APA only permit the use of abbreviations like this ("i.e.", "cf." and so on) inside parentheses:

...you can set it to another value (e.g., 100).

Informal writing

There is little wrong with

...you can set it to e.g. 100

and this usage may be preferred for the sake of brevity. I would still put a comma before "e.g." though.

share|improve this answer

answered 32 mins ago

binaryfuntbinaryfunt

1248

add a comment | 

0

Formal writing

You should at least follow the structure:

…you can set it to another value, e.g., 100.

Note the placement of the commas above, which would be the same if you wrote "for example" instead.

However, style guides such as APA only permit the use of abbreviations like this ("i.e.", "cf." and so on) inside parentheses:

...you can set it to another value (e.g., 100).

Informal writing

There is little wrong with

...you can set it to e.g. 100

and this usage may be preferred for the sake of brevity. I would still put a comma before "e.g." though.

share|improve this answer

answered 32 mins ago

binaryfuntbinaryfunt

1248

add a comment | 

Formal writing

You should at least follow the structure:

…you can set it to another value, e.g., 100.

Note the placement of the commas above, which would be the same if you wrote "for example" instead.

However, style guides such as APA only permit the use of abbreviations like this ("i.e.", "cf." and so on) inside parentheses:

...you can set it to another value (e.g., 100).

Informal writing

There is little wrong with

...you can set it to e.g. 100

and this usage may be preferred for the sake of brevity. I would still put a comma before "e.g." though.

share|improve this answer

answered 32 mins ago

binaryfuntbinaryfunt

1248

share|improve this answer

answered 32 mins ago

binaryfuntbinaryfunt

1248

answered 32 mins ago

binaryfuntbinaryfunt

1248

answered 32 mins ago

binaryfuntbinaryfunt

1248