Isn't e.g. the only abbreviation for the word example in English?

No, “ex.” is listed as an abbreviation in for example the American Heritage Dictionary (Second College Edition, 1982), though “example” is only the second of seven meanings listed for it:

1. examination
2. example
3. except; excepted; exception
4. exchange
5. executive
6. express
7. extra

“e.g.” is listed as Latin for ”exempli gratia (for example)”, so a slightly different form.

e.g. 1680s, abbreviation of Latin exempli gratia “for the sake of example”.

I’ve also seen i.e used to represent example.

^ That’s incorrect though, people use it that was but it’s not meant to be used that way. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/i.e.

I.e. and e.g. are both abbreviations for Latin terms. I.e. stands for id est and means roughly “that is.” E.g. stands for exempli gratia, which means “for example.”

I just noticed the typo in my previous response. People use it that *way.

I always thought e.g. meant, “that is….”

^^ I was taught that it meant “for example”.

I don’t remember ever being “taught.” I think I just extrapolated from the context I found it in in, e.g. context. (that is, context.) That’s just what I hear in my head, anyway.

I never i.e is not the same as e.g. For example could just be ” Buy some of the fruits in the store, for example, the apples and the oranges.” Ok.
“Buy all the fruits in the store, i..e the apples and oranges.” i.e means “that means” Except it’s all the fruits not just the apples and the oranges.

Another question is, why is e.g. never used in books while i.e. is used quite often?

…I mean I never saw i.e the same as e.g.

I’m going to go with @KNOWITALL ‘s response.

@Zaku But isn’t an abbreviation the first letter of every word? Ex is just the first 2 letters of sooooo many words.

@all

Usage examples:
e.g. is an abbreviation of exempli gratia, which means “for example.”
Use e.g. before listing examples of the previous statement.
I write poetry and prose in my journals, but they also serve other purposes; e.g. calculating gratuity.

i.e. is an abbreviation of id est; translation: “that is.”
Use i.e. before clarifying or adding to the previous statement.
When I went on vacation last week, I brought my favorite writing journal; i.e., the one with the beaded cover.

http://writersrelief.com/blog/2011/07/when-and-how-should-you-use-i-e-e-g-in-a-sentence/

How about:
i.e is about everything/all the items.
e.g is one or more out of all of them.
That’s what I meant in my previous to last post.

@flo “But isn’t an abbreviation the first letter of every word? Ex is just the first 2 letters of sooooo many words.”
– No, an abbreviation is a shortened word. The period indicates where that it is an abbreviation, but there are many abbreviations that use more than one letter of the abbreviated word, e.g.:

adj. – adjective, or adjusted
approx. – approximate
eccles. – ecclesiastical
Gk. myth. – Greek mythology

@Zaku What do you call a word that’s made up of the 1st letter of the term, as opposd to the other forms of shotening of words?

That’s an acronym, @flo. For ex. NASA is National Aeronautics and Space Administration..

@Zaku To add to my last post: whether it just happens to be an acronym or not.

You really need to copy and paste the posts you’re referring to, instead of expecting us to look them up when I don’t think they’re the post you’re referring to. Your “last” post, then one you are referring to above, says What do you call a word that’s made up of the 1st letter of the term, as opposd to the other forms of shotening of words?” Then, in your next post, you put ”To add to my last post: whether it just happens to be an acronym or not.” That doesn’t make sense, @flo .

@Zaku I hope all is well

So….. @Zaku is the only one you want to hear from? OK. I’m out.

@flo I’ve been busy and not following the thread since the last time I posted.

There may likely be a term for “one-letter abbreviations using the first letter of what they refer to”, or for that plus “abbreviations that also happen to be acronyms” but I don’t know of one.