When is it appropriate to use "i.e." and "e.g." as abbreviations of "for example" when writing?

Question

Do they have different meanings or are they interchangable? Also, my guess is that they are both initials for Latin words... bonus "atta boys" or "atta girls" for whomever can enlighten me.

Answer 1

The short forms i.e. (id est) and e.g. (exempli gratia) do not mean the same thing and many a time are wrongly used as if they are interchangeable.
i.e. means 'that is' and is used to enlarge upon or explain the meaning of the word or sentence earlier used. Example:
I would be back in half an hour, i.e. at 7 PM.
e.g. means 'for example'. This is used to specify certain items which have been generally covered in the earlier word or sentence used. Example: Human hair could have different colors, e.g. black, brown, gray.
Attaboy is an old time English expression that is used when one appreciates or wants to encourage the action of another. I am not sure if attagirl is also used.

Answer 2

No they are different. e.g means, "here is an example of what I am talking about" so you could give lots of different e.g.'s
i.e. means "here is the specific example I am talking about"

I keep lots of animals e.g. cats (or dogs, or gerbils)
I keep cats i.e. felines (thats what cats are in case the reader didn't know)

Answer 3

i.e. means that is to say (Latin is id est)

e.g. means for example (Latin is exempli gratia)

i.e. does not mean for example, but I have seen people use it for that all of the time. They are not interchangable

Answer 4

e.g. means "for example"
i.e. means "that is to say" or "in other words "

eg gives an example of something:
There are many major causes of pollution, e.g.: air pollution; water pollution; noise pollution.

ie tells it in other words or what it means:
We'll call you, i.e. you didn't get the job

Hope I helped! : )

Answer 5

Use them in parathenses, or after a comma to denote the end of a sentence.

Answer 6

yeah, it's totally appropiate