: Re: 'for example' and 'e.g.' in a thesis I'm writing a thesis in English (I'm not a native speaker) and I suddenly wondered: should I use 'for example' or 'e.g.'? should try to completely avoid

@Hamaas631

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"E.g." is an abbreviation for the Latin "exempli gratia", which means "for example". The abbreviation is fairly common in "advanced" writing, like theses, in my experience.

However, it's an other-language abbreviation, so it's a small hurdle for some. Might your thesis have readers who are less advanced? Might some of them be weaker with English than you are? Might your thesis ever be translated, either wholly or by people pasting bits into Google Translate?

Because of these considerations, some writers, editors, and departments avoid using any of the Latin abbreviations (e.g., i.e., ibid.). It is not wrong to use "for example" instead, and your work will be slightly more accessible if you use that instead of "e.g.".

Either way, the phrase is not limited to parenthetical expressions.

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