Would it be proper to include (e.g.) after an example?

Question

Usually e.g. is used after a general statement to give an example:

Use some sort of cloth to clean the table (e.g. a dish rag or kitchen towel).

If the general statement is implied from the example, we can remove it completely and include something like (for example):

To clean the table, use a dish rag or kitchen towel (for example).

My Question:

Would it be appropriate to use e.g. here instead?

To clean the table, use a dish rag or kitchen towel (e.g.).

Yes, that's pretty common and idiomatic. Anywhere you feel comfortable using the actual words "for example", "e.g." is an appropriate substitute. — Dan Bron, Mar 08 '17 at 20:06
By the time we get to the end of the examples, maybe we already know they are examples. — Yosef Baskin, Mar 08 '17 at 20:18
@DanBron I disagree, I've never seen (e.g.) placed at the end of the sentence. — Azor Ahai -him-, Mar 08 '17 at 20:49
@Azor-Ahai You're free to disagree, of course, but not only have I seen it used this way, I've used it this way myself. — Dan Bron, Mar 08 '17 at 20:50
@DanBron Interesting. Perhaps it's specific to a kind of literature? — Azor Ahai -him-, Mar 08 '17 at 20:51
E.g. stands for exempli gratia in Latin. If it was not abbreviated, could the Latin properly be used in that construction? — fixer1234, Apr 07 '17 at 23:58

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 08 '17 at 20:47

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I have not seen that done, and in the specific given instance, it's really unnecessary. You haven't given any examples, you given instruction on what to use.

answered Mar 08 '17 at 20:47

Rob K

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Not sure it's unnecessary. Without it it means "use a dish rag or kitchen towel" (only, nothing else). With it it means "use a dish rag or kitchen towel" (but other things are possible). – John D Mar 08 '17 at 21:21

Would it be proper to include (e.g.) after an example?

My Question:

1 Answers1