e.g.*

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Aren't they both usable?

by Anonymous 11 years ago

e.g. stands for 'exempli gratia', which means 'for the sake of example' in Latin. It's used for, well, examples. i.e. stands for 'id est', which means 'that is' in Latin. It has the same meaning as 'in other words'.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I think the post would still make sense if it went "It's funny how sometimes your stress reliever can be the cause of your stress, in other words, girlfriends."

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Girlfriends are not the only stress relievers that can be the cause of stress. i.e. is used for finite lists.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I know, but if the post meant "in other words, girlfriends" it would be making a joke specifically about girlfriends, and it would make sense.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I //highly// doubt it, but I suppose it could work that way.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

You highly doubt what, exactly?

by Anonymous 11 years ago

That that was the intended joke. See the comment below, for example. Why are you making such a big deal out of this?

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Oh. No I didn't mean that it was the intended joke, just that if the post was making a joke specifically about girlfriends it would make sense to use i.e. Sorry for being confusing.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Lol'd

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Making a big deal out of this?

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Oh, I see. Thank you! I guess the reason so many people think they're interchangeable is because they can easily be applied in very similar situations.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Mine is food, specifically unhealthy food.

by Anonymous 11 years ago