❌ Make your arguments unclear
❌ Lead to misinterpretation of your research
❌ Reduce the professionalism of your paper
What Does 'e.g.' Mean?
When to Use ‘e.g.’ in Research Papers
✔️ You want to give some examples, but there could be more possibilities
✔️ You are not listing all possible items
✔️ You want to help the reader understand a concept by showing specific instances
How to Format ‘e.g.’
✔️Always include a comma after ‘e.g.’ in American English: (e.g., …)
✔️It is often placed inside parentheses in academic writing.
✔️If used in the main text, it must be part of a complete sentence.
Examples of ‘e.g.’ in Research Papers
📌 “Several antioxidants are essential for cellular defense (e.g., vitamin C, vitamin E, and glutathione).”
✅ Correct! This means there are other antioxidants not listed.
📌 “Common statistical tests used in biology include parametric methods (e.g., t-tests, ANOVA, and regression analysis).”
✅ Correct! The list gives examples but does not include all possible tests.
📌 “This medication is effective in treating viral infections (e.g., influenza and hepatitis C).”
✅ Correct! This means the medication works for these examples, but it may treat other viruses too.
🚫 Incorrect use of ‘e.g.’
❌ “The experiment was conducted in three countries (e.g., the U.S., Canada, and Germany).”
🚨 Wrong! If these are the only three countries, use i.e. instead.
What Does 'i.e.' Mean?
When to Use ‘i.e.’ in Research Papers
✔️ You need to explain something further
✔️ You are not giving examples but rather restating the exact meaning
✔️ You want to make your point clearer by specifying something
How to Format ‘i.e.’
✔️ It is often placed inside parentheses for better readability.
✔️ If used in the main text, it must be part of a complete sentence.
Examples of ‘i.e.’ in Research Papers
📌 “The experiment was conducted in three countries (i.e., the U.S., Canada, and Germany).”
✅ Correct! This means the study took place only in these three countries.
📌 “The data was normalized using a common method (i.e., min-max scaling).”
✅ Correct! This is not an example—it is the specific method used.
📌 “The patient exhibited signs of metabolic syndrome (i.e., insulin resistance, hypertension, and obesity).”
✅ Correct! This means that metabolic syndrome includes these specific conditions.
🚫 Incorrect use of ‘i.e.’
❌ “The study analyzed various climate factors (i.e., temperature, humidity, and precipitation).”
🚨 Wrong! These are examples of climate factors, so use e.g. instead.
| Feature | e.g. (For Example) | i.e. (That Is/In Other Words) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Provides examples | Clarifies or redefines meaning |
| Use | When listing some examples | When specifying or restating something |
| Punctuation | Followed by a comma (in American English) | Followed by a comma (in American English) |
| Sentence Impact | Expands meaning by including possibilities | Narrows meaning by being precise |
🔹 Quick Trick to Remember:
e.g. = Examples Given
i.e. = In Essence (or In Other Words)
Where to Use ‘e.g.’ and ‘i.e.’ in Research Papers
Parentheses (Most Common in Academic Writing)
This is the most frequent placement in scientific papers:
✔️ “The study focused on neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease).”
✔️ “The dataset contained missing values (i.e., data points with no recorded measurements).”
Within a Sentence (Less Common in Formal Writing)
In highly formal writing, full phrases like “for example,” and “that is,” are often preferred. However, e.g. and i.e. can still be used correctly in the main text.
✔️ “Common solvents in organic chemistry, e.g., ethanol and acetone, were tested in the reaction.”
✔️ “The test requires a single variable, i.e., only one factor should change at a time.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
🚫 Don’t use ‘e.g.’ when you mean ‘i.e.’
❌ “The trial was conducted in three countries (e.g., Germany, France, and Italy).” (Wrong!)
✅ “The trial was conducted in three countries (i.e., Germany, France, and Italy).” (Correct! Because this is an exact list.)
🚫 Don’t use ‘i.e.’ when you mean ‘e.g.’
❌ “Certain bacteria thrive in extreme environments (i.e., Deinococcus radiodurans, Thermococcus, and Halobacterium).” (Wrong!)
✅ “Certain bacteria thrive in extreme environments (e.g., Deinococcus radiodurans, Thermococcus, and Halobacterium).” (Correct! Because these are just examples.)
🚫 Don’t use ‘etc.’ with ‘e.g.’
❌ “Various techniques can be used (e.g., PCR, Western blot, ELISA, etc.).” (Redundant! ‘e.g.’ already implies an incomplete list!)
✅ “Various techniques can be used (e.g., PCR, Western blot, and ELISA).” (More precise!)
🚫 Avoid using ‘e.g.’ or ‘i.e.’ at the beginning of a sentence
❌ “E.g., several factors influence climate change.” (Too informal!)
✅ “Several factors influence climate change (e.g., greenhouse gases, deforestation, and ocean currents).” (Correct!)
Final Takeaway
✔️ Use ‘i.e.’ when clarifying or restating something precisely
✔️ Always use a comma after ‘e.g.’ and ‘i.e.’
✔️ Prefer parentheses for formal writing
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