Commonly Confused Abbreviations

In this post, we look at commonly confused abbreviations.

An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase.

Commonly Confused Abbreviations

The abbreviations: etc., i.e., and e.g. are commonly confused.

1. Etc. means ‘continuing in the same way’.
2. I.e. means ‘that is’.
3. E.g. means ‘for example’.

Writing Tip: Always punctuate these abbreviations within commas.

Examples: 

1. Buy carrots, oranges, apples, etc., at this shop.
2. We give all clients an early bird discount, i.e., 10%.
3. The course includes writing basics, e.g., grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

Writing Tip: In good English, use ‘etc.’ as little as possible. It is better to be specific.

[Top Tip: If you need practical help with your grammar, buy The Complete Grammar Workbook.]