Seven-up! Can you spot an error involving the use of the Latin abbreviations "e.g.," "etc.," "et al." or "i.e." in each of these seven sentences?

1) Committing a mistake when using Latin abbreviations is not one of the seven deadly sins, e.g., pride, envy, gluttony, greed, lust, sloth, wrath.

2) Servius Tullius built fortifications on the seven hills of Rome, e.g., the Palatinus, the Capitolinus, the Quirinalis, etc.

3) According to Greek myth, Thebes was attacked by seven heroes, e.g., Adrastus, Polynices.

4) The seven seas (Arctic, Antarctic et. al.) were celebrated in a Rudyard Kipling poem.

5) The seven virtues are justice, temperance, charity and etc.

6) The Seven Dwarfs, i.e., Doc, Bashful, Sleepy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Happy and ... er, Fred, whistled while they worked. (I can never remember the seventh one; call me dopey.)

7) Seven out of seven experts insist that "etc." should always be pronounced as four syllables ("et-set-uhr-uh"), not as three syllables ("et-set-ruh").

Answers:

1. The abbreviation "e.g.," which stands for the Latin "exempli gratia," means "for example." So, it should never be used to precede a complete list of the items in a group.

2) "Etc.," short for the Latin "et cetera" ("and other things of the same kind"), suggests the inclusion of all items. Thus, it's illogical to use "etc." after "e.g.," which indicates that a partial list follows.

3) Because "etc." means "and other THINGS of the same kind," avoid using it with people. For people, use "et al," which is short for "et alia" ("and the others") and can be used for both people and things.

4) Because "et" is the Latin word for "and," it's not an abbreviation and thus needs no period.

5) Because "et cetera" means "AND other things," it's redundant to precede it with "and."

6) The abbreviation "i.e." stands for the Latin phrase "id est" (that is). It's almost always followed not by a list or examples but by a definition clarifying what preceded it, as in, "The Seven Dwarfs, i.e., those little fellows who lived with Snow White." By the way, in American English, "i.e." is usually followed by a comma ("i.e., those little fellows") but not in British English ("i.e. those little blokes").

7) In fact, experts are at sixes and sevens on this issue. While some purists insist on four syllables ("et-set-uhr-uh"), others say it's perfectly fine to render it as three syllables ("et-set-ruh"). But they all agree that you shouldn't say say "ek-set-ruh" or "ek-set-uhr-uh."

Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Connecticut, invites your language sightings. Send your reports of misuse and abuse, as well as examples of good writing, via email to WordGuy@aol.com or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.

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