Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing 'I.e.' versus 'e.g.' What Shakespeare actually added to English. Four schnitzels.
Apr 22, 2025
Confused about 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'? This podcast unpacks their meanings and the common mistakes people make. In honor of Shakespeare's birthday, it dives into myths about his contributions, revealing he only coined around 500 words, not thousands. Discover how much Latin he actually knew, and enjoy a listener's quirky phrase, 'for schnitzels', showcasing the playful side of language. Get ready to enhance your writing skills while unraveling the intriguing legacy of one of history's greatest wordsmiths!
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Key IE vs. EG Advice
- Remember IE means "in other words" and EG means "for example" to avoid confusion.
- Always use a comma after IE and EG in American English, and don't italicize them.
Shakespeare's Language Reality
- Shakespeare coined about 500 words, far fewer than the often cited 1,000+ number.
- His vocabulary is large due to the volume of his work rather than unusually extensive vocabulary.
Shakespeare's English Share
- Shakespeare's works contain about 21,000 different words but represent under 5% of the entire English language.
- Claims he invented or represents a large portion of English are greatly exaggerated.