A mnemonic device, like I before E, except after C
Posted
January 5, 2009 
Comments(3)
Comments(3)
In this entry, Garrick Van Buren posts a simple, elegant way of remembering when to use i.e., and when to use e.g. Unfortunately, his method requires that you know Latin.
Herewith, my method: i.e. is short for, "in other words," which is easy to remember because they both start with "i." On the other hand, e.g. is short for, "for egg-zample," because they both start with the "egg" sound. Sort of. Close enough.
I remember these using the same device, but mostly just the "in other words" part.
That's because you are deficient in the category of "whimsy". That's right. I said it.
When will you publish your post on whether to put a period inside or outside of quotation marks? I look forward to reading it.