Some feel that the use of parentheses with e.g. and i.e. is redundant, whereas others consider them required. I myself usually go without them.

I've never heard of using parentheses with that. It is set off with commas, it takes both periods, and it is pronounced "for example".

Our zoo has some reptiles, e.g., crocodiles, iguanas and skinks.

I recommend you never use "e.g." or its ugly sister "i.e."

enoonI recommend you never use "e.g." or its ugly sister "i.e."

Oh, come on, enoon. They can be useful at times!

Aspara GusThey can be useful at times!

Like when?

You should just write out "for example" and "that is", because that's how they are said. Besides, they're ugly and affected, and people are forever misusing them—wrong punctuation, and getting them bass ackwards.

enoonLike when?

Well, I don't use i.e. very often, but I have found that e.g. is especially useful for tersely introducing examples of words or phrases when helping learners on this forum. In such cases, I can't imagine bothering myself with writing out for example, which I tend to reserve for full sentences only.

Aspara Gus enoonLike when?Well, I don't use i.e. very often, but I have found that e.g. is especially useful for tersely introducing examples of words or phrases when helping learners on this forum. In such cases, I can't imagine bothering myself with writing out for example, which I tend to reserve for full sentences only.

Yeah, OK, but I still advise people

enoonNobody would miss them if you stopped, right?

I would.

CliveHi,dittoClive

I wondered where you were.