….but you’re not.  So remove the Latin abbreviations i.e., e.g., and etc. from your writing.

Maybe you got used to using the Latin when you were writing term papers in college.   You’re in the business world now, communicating with customers and colleagues.

It’s time to express yourself in English. Why? Because:

• Writing to customers should be conversational, not a thesis.  Do you ever say  i.e. or e.g. out loud?
• Not all of your readers speak English as a first language. They might come from a country that doesn’t use Latin abbreviations in its educational system.
• You just might be using them incorrectly.  A lot of people use i.e. to mean for example.  That’s not what it means.

The Case Against I.E. and E.G.

• i.e. is the abbreviation of id est, which means that is. So just say that is!

After meeting the Wizard, the Scarecrow had what he’d yearned for – that is, a brain!.

• e.g. is the abbreviation of exempli gratia, which means for example.  So say for example or such as.

Dorothy endured many frightening things, such as those ghastly flying monkeys.

abd

The Case Against Et Cetera

Stop using etc. It’s either lazy or it’s lying.

Take, for example,  We bake cakes, pies, cookies, etc.

It’s lazy to tack an etc. to the end of that list and thus make your reader fill in the blanks. Provide the information yourself! (Hey, your reader might get it wrong).  That etc. also implies that the list continues. Does it? Or are you trying to fool people? If so, shame on you.

If you’ve got more to say, either:

• Say it.    We bake cakes, pies, cookies and cupcakes.

• Qualify the list.  Use …and so on or ….and such or some other construction to show that the list continues: We bake such delectables as cakes, pies and cookies.

Not all Latin is bad English! Next time, I’ll look at those Latin phrases that are worth adding to your writing.