e.g.

Writers often mishandle e.g.: missing periods, wrong comma placement, or starting a sentence with it. Below are tight rules, plenty of wrong/right pairs, context-specific rewrites for work, school, and casual use, a three-step fix checklist, and a simple memory trick you can paste into your editor.

Quick answer

Write the abbreviation as e.g. (two periods). In American running text, follow it with a comma when it introduces examples: e.g.,. Avoid beginning a sentence with e.g.; use "For example" instead.

Write the letters together: e.g.
In U.S. mid-sentence usage, write e.g., (period, period, comma).
If the sentence would start with e.g., rewrite it as "For example" or move the example into the sentence or a parenthetical.

Core rules: meaning and basic punctuation

e.g. stands for exempli gratia, Latin for "for example." Because it is an abbreviation, include both periods: e.g. Use it to introduce illustrative examples, not to restate or define.

Typical mid-sentence pattern (U.S.): We need supplies, e.g., pens and paper. The abbreviation is usually followed by a comma in American usage; British usage often omits that comma.

Always use both periods in e.g. unless a specific house style omits them.
Use a comma after e.g. in U.S. running text when it introduces examples.
Don't use e.g. to mean "that is" - that's i.e.

Spacing, punctuation, hyphenation, and sentence position

No spaces inside the abbreviation: write e.g., not e. g. or e.g . The period after g is the abbreviation period; you do not add a second period if the abbreviation ends the sentence.

Inside parentheses, keep the comma with the abbreviation if the parenthetical provides examples: (e.g., apples, oranges). If the parenthetical ends the sentence, close it and use normal sentence punctuation.

Correct: (e.g., red, blue, and green).
End of sentence: Prefer a parenthetical or rephrase: She brought snacks (e.g., cookies and chips). Or: She brought snacks, for example, cookies and chips.
No hyphenation: don't write e-g or e.g.-style forms. Keep it lowercase in body text unless a style requires capitalization.

Spacing - wrong/right: Wrong: Many apps eg Slack and Zoom help teams.
Right: Many apps, e.g., Slack and Zoom, help teams.
Parentheses - wrong/right: Wrong: We tested several browsers (eg Chrome, Firefox).
Right: We tested several browsers (e.g., Chrome, Firefox).
Sentence-initial - wrong/right: Wrong: Eg, the experiment failed.
Right: For example, the experiment failed.

Grammar note: e.g. vs i.e. and common confusions

Use e.g. to offer examples ("for example"). Use i.e. to restate or clarify ("that is"). A quick substitution test helps: if "for example" fits, use e.g.; if "that is" or "in other words" fits, use i.e.

e.g. → "for example" (illustration)
i.e. → "that is" (clarification)
Mixing them changes meaning-check by substituting the English phrase.

Wrong/right: Wrong: She likes citrus, i.e., oranges and lemons.
Right: She likes citrus, e.g., oranges and lemons.
Substitution test: Replace with "for example" or "that is" to confirm which abbreviation you need.

Real usage and tone: when to use e.g. versus spelling it out

Choose e.g. for compact notes, slides, or internal messages. Spell out "for example" in formal documents, sentence openings, or when communicating with non-specialist readers for maximum clarity.

Internal memo or slides: e.g., is compact and acceptable.
Academic papers, client reports, and external-facing documents: prefer "For example" (especially at sentence start).
When clarity matters-legal text, instructions, or audiences with varied English proficiency-spell it out.

Presentation: Slide bullet: Tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch).
Academic: Essay: For example, early studies show a correlation between A and B.
Client email: For example, we recommend focusing on the homepage conversion rate.

Examples and common wrong/right pairs

Copy these exact phrasings when editing your own text. They show correct punctuation and tone for each context.

Work - email: Please review the budget items, e.g., travel, software, and contractor fees, before Friday.
Work - report: Several metrics (e.g., time on task and completion rate) improved after the redesign.
Work - chat: We need more integrations (e.g., Zapier, IFTTT); can someone test them?
School - essay: For example, early experiments indicate a positive trend in behavior.
School - notes: Some species (e.g., Drosophila melanogaster) are model organisms in genetics.
School - email to professor: Please find my draft attached (e.g., Draft_v2.docx).
Casual - text: Bring snacks (e.g., chips, cookies) if you can.
Casual - chat: I like sci-fi movies, e.g., The Matrix and Blade Runner.
Casual - social post: Favorite colors (e.g., blue, green) - what's yours?

Additional wrong/right pairs for quick copy-and-paste fixes:

Wrong: Many software options eg Microsoft Word or Google Docs provide formatting tools.
Right: Many software options, e.g., Microsoft Word or Google Docs, provide formatting tools.
Wrong: Bring items eg umbrella and sunscreen.
Right: Bring items, e.g., an umbrella and sunscreen.
Wrong: She listed fruits (eg apples, bananas and pears).
Right: She listed fruits (e.g., apples, bananas, and pears).
Wrong: The policy covers remote work eg: flexible hours.
Right: The policy covers remote work, e.g., flexible hours.
Wrong: The toolkit contains many items eg template, checklist, sample.
Right: The toolkit contains many items, e.g., a template, a checklist, and a sample.
Wrong: You can use cloud services e.g Dropbox and Box.
Right: You can use cloud services, e.g., Dropbox and Box.
Wrong: Examples include (eg, see Appendix A).
Right: Examples include (e.g., see Appendix A).

Rewrite help: fix your sentence in three steps

Three quick steps to correct a sentence: choose between e.g. or "for example"; punctuate e.g. correctly; and rephrase if it would start the sentence.

Step 1: If the phrase illustrates, use e.g.; if it begins a sentence or you need formality, write "For example."
Step 2: Use exactly e.g., - two periods and a comma in U.S. running text (no extra spaces).
Step 3: If it reads awkwardly, put the example in parentheses or rewrite as a full clause.

Original: Eg, you should save copies of the draft. Fix: For example, you should save copies of the draft.
Original: The toolkit contains many items eg template, checklist, sample. Fix: The toolkit contains many items, e.g., a template, a checklist, and a sample.
Original: E.g., check the logs. Fix: Check the logs, for example, when debugging.

Memory trick and quick checklist

Memory trick: Think "e.g." as "example given" - a quick English reminder (not a literal translation) that e.g. introduces examples.

Paste this two-line checklist into your editor:

Use e.g. (two periods). In U.S. running text, follow it with a comma: e.g.,
Do not start a sentence with e.g.; write "For example" instead.

Similar mistakes to watch for

Watch these common slip-ups: dropping the periods (eg), confusing e.g. with i.e., adding a colon after e.g., or misplacing commas around parentheses.

eg vs e.g.: use the periods unless your house style omits them.
Avoid combining e.g. with a colon (e.g.:). Instead: "For example:" or "We used, e.g., X and Y."
Check punctuation around parentheses: (e.g., A, B) keeps the comma inside the parentheses.

Wrong: e.g: we used the sample.
Right: For example, we used the sample. Or: We used several samples, e.g., A and B.
Wrong: She brought fruit eg apples.
Right: She brought fruit, e.g., apples.

FAQ

Do you put a comma after e.g.?

In American English, yes: put a comma after e.g. when it introduces examples mid-sentence. British usage may omit that comma; follow your style guide.

Is it OK to write eg without periods?

Some house styles allow eg without periods, but the safest widely accepted form is e.g. with periods. Follow the publisher or employer guide if one exists.

Should I start a sentence with e.g.?

Avoid it. Start sentences with "For example" or restructure so the abbreviation appears mid-sentence or in parentheses.

When should I use e.g. vs i.e.?

Use e.g. to offer examples ("for example") and i.e. to restate or clarify ("that is"). Substitute the English phrase to check which fits.

How do I punctuate e.g. inside parentheses or after a colon?

Inside parentheses, keep the comma if the parenthetical contains examples: (e.g., A, B). Avoid placing e.g. directly after a colon; instead write "For example:" or restructure the sentence.

Fix one sentence now

Paste a sentence you're unsure about into the quick editor below. Ask whether "for example" reads better than e.g., and check for the comma after e.g. If in doubt for formal writing, spell out "for example"-clarity beats a tight abbreviation.