Also known as: eg · exempli gratia · for example
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
An abbreviation for the Latin phrase exempli gratia used to introduce one or more illustrative examples in legal writing and analysis.
Edith Eberhardt contracted to sell land to Empire Logistics. The title search revealed an unreleased lien from a prior mortgage. Empire Logistics refused to close, citing defects such as unreleased liens, e.g., the recorded mortgage that had never been satisfied.
Elise Everly petitioned the court for alimony after her spouse stopped providing financial support. The court examined the parties' respective needs and ability to pay. It considered typical support factors, e.g., duration of the marriage and disparity in earnings, before ordering payments.
Elena Estrada owned land in State Y but litigated title issues in State X. The court applied the full law of State Y, including its choice-of-law rules. It reached the same result a State Y court would reach on issues such as recording statutes, e.g., those governing constructive notice.
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Erika Echevarria agreed to purchase property from Enigma Technologies. An unreleased judgment lien appeared in the chain of title. Erika Echevarria rescinded when the seller could not cure defects, e.g., the outstanding judgment that clouded title before closing.
Esther Eisenberg signed a binding contract to buy a warehouse from Elite Dynamics. A fire destroyed the building before closing. Esther Eisenberg remained obligated to pay under the majority rule on risk of loss, e.g., the rule treating the buyer as owner upon contract formation.
Edgar Evers contracted to sell commercial property to Elysium Media. After formation the seller retained legal title while the buyer acquired an equitable interest. Rents received during the executory period therefore belonged to the buyer under equitable conversion, e.g., the doctrine allocating benefits and burdens.
E.g. introduces illustrative examples in legal citations and text. It is appropriate when the writer wants to list one or more instances without exhausting the category. Legal writing guides recommend it as a concise signal that maintains professional tone.
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E.g. is italicized only when used as an introductory signal before a citation. When it appears in ordinary prose it is not italicized. This distinction appears in multiple legal writing references.
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E.g. means for example and introduces non-exclusive illustrations. I.e. means that is and introduces a rephrasing or exhaustive list. Substituting one for the other changes meaning and can create ambiguity.
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When e.g. serves as a signal it is followed by a comma and the citation. The comma separates the signal from the authority that follows.
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…until about 1850, some twenty years after that in the North. The reasons for the somewhat slower development in the South (e.g., the rural character of the South and the different regional attitudes toward state assistance) are well explained in Cubberley, supra, at 408-423. In the country as a whole, but…