This one isn’t as tricky as it seems, though most people opt for i.e., when they really mean e.g. The problem here is that most of us have either forgotten or never knew the Latin words these abbreviations stand for. So, here’s a simple way to remember which one to use and their Latin meanings serve quite nicely.

e.g. stands for exempli gratia, which means – for example

i.e. stands for id est, which means – that is

The first letter of the abbreviation can help you remember which to use. The “e” in e.g. points to “example”, and the “i” in i.e. points to “is”. Pretty simple really.

So when you want to illustrate something, e.g., how to pick the lint out of your toes, you want to present an example.

When you want to clarify or reword something, i.e., that lint picking your toes is best done in private, then you want a “that is” involved.

Just remember to put a comma before either usage. Commas after them will depend on stylebook dictates, but usually you’ll want one.

This is a confusing element for a whole lot of people. Most content I see (like 90%) gets this wrong. I’m not sure why, because it’s really much easier to understand when you use it. But, most people just don’t want to put that comma in before the conjunction. 

The Chicago Manual of Style, with just a few exceptions, says to use serial commas for clarity. “Items in a series are normally separated by commas … When a conjunction joins the last two elements in a series, a comma – known as the serial or series comma or the Oxford comma – should appear before the conjunction. Chicago strongly recommends this widely practiced usage … since it prevents ambiguity.” CMS 6.19

The Associated Press Stylebook basically says to use the serial comma in most cases except for a simple series: My face was covered in black, blue and yellow bruises. (This is how most people do ALL their series – too much newspaper reading?) Everything else needs a comma before the conjunction.

Strunk and White, The Elements of Style states except in cases such as business names, “In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last.” Using an example from this excerpt: gold, silver, or copper.

This is as basic as I can get. I would recommend just putting the commas in there for any kind of listing, because it does make things a whole lot cleaner.

When in doubt, it’s better to serial than not to serial.

Examples:

Johnny packed the truck full of yellow ribbons, purple boxes, and orange fences.

I went to the store, did some laundry, and screamed out the window at the old lady picking my roses.

After reading Lynne Truss’s book, “Eats, Shoots, and Leaves”, I had to comment about errors I see all too often as I bounce from page to page on the Web for my work. Very few Web content writers take the time to make sure their copy is clean. As professionals, we are expected to get things right – and that includes our writing.

It’s nice to read something from someone who is just as frightened and appalled as I am when we encounter blatant spelling, punctuation, and grammar abuses on signs, billboards, menus, flyers, programs, and just about everything that has words written on it.

It’s not that people don’t make errors occasionally. I don’t think even the most anal-retentive, uppity, girdle-wearing copyeditor in the universe can write perfect copy. But, geez, there is such a thing as taking the time to re-read what you wrote!

When I put things on display for people to read and find an error after it’s out there, my insides just begin melting. I am mortified and embarrassed. Not because I am an editor and writer. Not because I’m an innate grammar geek. And not because I happen to be a closet perfectionist.

Well, all those things factor in, but it’s because someone might have read it! It’s like being caught with your rear end hanging over the potty and there’s a line of people gaping at you. Embarrassing? Quite.

What I (and Lynne and many others like us) can’t figure out is why the offenders don’t feel this way. Don’t you care that you’ve just mooned everyone and we now know that your behind is pink, floppy, and full of pimples? Euwww! Do I want to buy anything from you? Not with that bumpy bottom I don’t.

Where is the commitment to excellence? What happened to going the extra mile? How did this happen?

As an aside, I’ve found that many people can be good writers and still not have the rules right. Sure, the message itself may be a very good one. It may be witty, worthy, and intellectually sound. You may be able to produce a piece that makes buttering bread sound like the next best thing to having wings. But, if your copy is full of grammatical stumbles, spelling spills, and punctuation missteps; that’s exactly how it’s going to read, despite your talent.

Point is: Spell check and don’t think for a minute your spell checker is going to catch everything. Grammar check, and don’t believe everything your grammar checker tells you. Read it out loud. If it sounds funny coming out of your mouth, chances are it needs a rewrite.

Take the time and your professionalism will have a better chance.

I had a friend ask me to explain this once and for all. Where does the blasted period go? Quite simply, put the period on the outside if it isn’t a complete sentence. Put it on the inside if the complete sentence is surrounded by the parentheses.

For example:

Outside - Johnny went down to play ball and forgot his mitt (it was in the garage).

Inside - Johnny like playing ball. (He like catching the most.)

Do note a single (  is a parenthesis. A pair is parentheses.