There are several Latin abbreviations that are used regularly in writing. This is particularly common in certain types of nonfiction writing. Unfortunately, many people do not know how to use these abbreviations correctly. There is nothing worse than writing a journal article and sounding like you don’t know what you’re doing. It’s a quick way to lose readership!
In this article, we’ll discuss a few common ones you have probably come across before and how to use them.
i.e versus e.g.
i.e.
This is one of two abbreviations that are typically used in lieu of “ex.,” meaning that authors often put it at the beginning of a list of examples in a sentence. However, that is an incorrect usage of it, as it stands for id est meaning “that is.” One way to remember it is to use a mnemonic device and associate a phrase such as “in essence” with the same beginning letters of i and e. The abbreviation i.e. is used to introduce a word or phrase that clarifies, or restates, something that was written earlier in the sentence.
Example:
- The student needs to be able to use proper writing conventions (i.e., capitalization, punctuation, and spelling).
It can also be useful in explaining a concept or term that may be unfamiliar to readers.
Example:
- My mom likes to visit tropical places, i.e. places with year-round warm temperatures.
When using i.e., it is typically placed between parentheses. A comma precedes it to notify the reader of the beginning of the explanation, but there is no need for a comma following it.
e.g.
In Latin, e.g. is exempli gratia, and it means “for example.” This is the one that should be used before an item or a list of items to clarify the meaning of something. Again, using a mnemonic device, you can remember it by associating a phrase such as “example given.”
Example:
- She wants to include several perennials (e.g., lavender, coneflowers, phlox, or daisies) in her flower garden so she doesn’t have to plant new flowers every year.
As in the use of i.e., e.g. should also be followed by a comma. It typically follows an em dash or is placed in parentheses.
et al. versus etc.
et al.
This example comes from the Latin phrase et alia, meaning “and others.” As with i.e. and e.g., it is most often used in the bibliography or footnotes of works such as scholarly books or journal articles. It can also be used in the middle of a sentence.
It is commonly used after the last name of an author to cite an article or book that was written by more than one person and is usually followed by a period. Essentially, it means that there is a continuation of a list of people.
Example:
- The book by McDonald et al. is widely known as having the most believable first-hand accounts.
etc.
The Latin phrase et cetera is abbreviated etc. Rather than referring to a continuing list of people, it means “and the rest” and refers to a longer list of items.
This is probably the most common of any Latin phrase used today, both in written and spoken English. When used in print, it is always preceded by a comma and followed by a period.
Example:
- If I’m going to make cookies, I need to go to the grocery to buy eggs, sugar, milk, etc.
All of the above-mentioned abbreviations should be lowercase, unless used as the first word in a sentence, and each abbreviation should be followed by a period. They do not need to be italicized.
Hopefully, this has cleared up any confusion you may have had about any or all of these. Although the majority of these are used mainly in academic works, you would be surprised to find that there are many other abbreviations, as well as many common words that are rooted in Latin.
Is Latin a dead language—I think not! I prefer to think it’s just hidden.
Heather Malone writes children’s books that focus mainly on Montessori education, special education, and nonfiction. She also dabbles in fiction. Her nonfiction book, Montessori from A to Z, was published in 2023, and her blog on homeschooling students with disabilities using the Montessori method can be viewed at spedmontessorisolutions.com. Her passion is education, which is evidenced by spending over twenty-five years in the field before leaving the classroom to now provide technical assistance to school districts. She lives with her husband and son in Ohio and enjoys traveling to new places in her free time.
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