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What is the proper use of ie and eg and etc?

Answer:

The abbreviation e.g. means 'for example'. (It is short for the Latin term exempli gratia.) It is pronounced ee gee.

-- Certain foods are basic, e.g. chocolates and ice cream. --


The letters i.e. mean 'that is' or 'in other words' (from the Latin id est). Pronounced eye ee.

-- Chocolates and ice cream are basic, i.e. essential to life. --


The abbreviation etc. means 'and so on'. It is the Latin term et cetera and is pronounced

ett sett er a. (Never say 'and' et cetera, the 'and ' is already in there.)

-- To function properly I need chocolates, ice cream, etc. --

First answer by Jo-bar. Last edit by Jo-bar. Contributor trust: 178 [recommend contributor recommended]. Question popularity: 13 [recommend question].