Here’s how I keep them straight.
I.e. stands for the Latin id est, or 'in
other words,' and is used to introduce a word or phrase that restates what
has been said previously.
If your portfolio has a high beta, (i.e.,
higher-than-average risk) then you can expect outsize performance during bull
markets, and worse than average performance during bear markets.
E.g. means “for example.” (It stands
for exempli
gratia in Latin.) It is used the way you’d use 'for
example,' coming before an item or a list of items.
The summer associates rotate through many
departments (e.g., tax, audit, planning, payroll, bookkeeping and
advisory services).
It may help to remember that
both 'that is' and 'for example' work in English the same way
as i.e. and e.g. Still not
confident? Try substituting ‘that is’ for i.e., or
‘for example’ for e.g.; if your sentence still makes sense you’ve used the
right one.
Punctuating i.e. and e.g.
Your AI or spellchecker will usually catch this, but make sure you have a period
after each letter. It’s best to have a comma following the last letter. Without
those punctuation symbols, it’s distracting to the reader and your software may
try to fill in a more complete word such as “egg” or “leg” or “peg” if it just
sees “eg” without punctuation.
Conclusion
I don’t love grammar and punctuation any more than you do. English is
a devious language with more exceptions to the rule than the U.S. tax code.
Just keep these simple tips in mind and you’ll be fine. At the end of the day,
it doesn’t matter how well you know the numbers, without a solid command of the
English language, you won’t be taken seriously. After all, You're an Elite Professional; Don't
Sound Like a Jamoke
#grammar; #businesscommunication; #thoughtleadership