HubSpot Writing Guide: How to Use e.g. and i.e. Correctly

Clear writing matters to every Hubspot user who sends emails, drafts sales templates, or publishes content. Two abbreviations that often confuse otherwise strong writers are e.g. and i.e.. Understanding the difference will instantly make your communication more precise and professional.

This guide breaks down exactly how to use each term, when to use commas and parentheses, and how to avoid common mistakes. You can apply these rules to your HubSpot emails, landing pages, playbooks, and any other customer-facing content.

What Are e.g. and i.e.? A HubSpot Style Overview

Before you start applying these abbreviations inside HubSpot templates, you need to understand what they actually mean.

e.g. comes from the Latin phrase exempli gratia, meaning “for example.”
i.e. comes from the Latin phrase id est, meaning “that is” or “in other words.”

In everyday business writing, you can think of them this way:

Use e.g. when you want to give one or more examples.
Use i.e. when you want to restate or clarify something more precisely.

How to Use e.g. in Your HubSpot Content

You will often use e.g. in HubSpot emails, blog posts, and sequences when you want to illustrate an idea with examples.

Basic rule for e.g. in HubSpot messaging

Use e.g. when you mean “for example.” It introduces sample items from a larger group, not a complete list.

Structure: statement, e.g., example 1, example 2.

Examples:

“You can segment your contacts by behavior, e.g., email opens and page views.”
“Our CRM supports many industries, e.g., SaaS, agencies, and ecommerce.”

Punctuation guidelines for e.g. in HubSpot text

Include a period after each letter: e.g.
Follow it with a comma in American English: e.g.,
Use commas to separate multiple examples in a simple list.

When the examples are not essential to the sentence, place them in parentheses to keep your HubSpot copy clean:

“Send this to decision-makers (e.g., directors and VPs) for faster approvals.”

Best practices for e.g. in HubSpot UI copy and emails

Use e.g. sparingly in user interface text; prefer plain language like “for example” when space allows.
Make examples short and specific so they are easy to scan in HubSpot email templates.
Avoid writing long example lists that distract from your main message.

How to Use i.e. in Your HubSpot Communication

Use i.e. to clarify or restate something in different words. It narrows or defines a term more precisely, which is particularly helpful in HubSpot product descriptions, training documentation, and SLAs.

Basic rule for i.e. in HubSpot documentation

Use i.e. when you mean “that is” or “in other words.” You are not giving examples; you are explaining exactly what you mean.

Structure: statement, i.e., clarification or definition.

Examples:

“We focus on qualified leads, i.e., contacts who match your ideal customer profile.”
“Enroll only engaged contacts, i.e., people who have interacted with your content in the last 30 days.”

Punctuation guidelines for i.e. in HubSpot content

Include a period after each letter: i.e.
Follow it with a comma in American English: i.e.,
Use parentheses if the clarification is extra information, not essential to the main sentence.

Example in parentheses:

“Please update the lifecycle stage (i.e., move the contact to ‘Customer’) after every closed deal.”

When i.e. works best in HubSpot workflows

Clarifying internal terms or labels that might confuse new users.
Defining metrics, i.e., the exact way a report calculates a value.
Explaining conditions inside workflow descriptions so your team uses HubSpot consistently.

HubSpot Style: e.g. vs. i.e. Side by Side

The short version: e.g. introduces examples; i.e. introduces a clarification.

Abbreviation	Meaning	Use When	Example
e.g.	for example	Offering one or more sample items	“Track engagement, e.g., email opens.”
i.e.	that is / in other words	Clarifying or defining something	“Engaged leads, i.e., contacts who clicked.”

One easy memory trick that many HubSpot trainers use:

e.g. starts with “e,” like “example.”
i.e. starts with “i,” like “in other words.”

Common Mistakes HubSpot Users Should Avoid

Mixing up these abbreviations can confuse readers and weaken your message. Here are typical issues to watch for when writing inside HubSpot.

1. Using i.e. when you really mean e.g.

If you are listing some but not all possibilities, you should almost always use e.g., not i.e..

Incorrect:

“Tailor content to buyer roles, i.e., founders, marketers, sales reps.” (This looks like you are defining buyer roles only as those three.)

Correct:

“Tailor content to buyer roles, e.g., founders, marketers, sales reps.”

2. Using e.g. when you mean i.e.

If you are giving the only possible meaning or an exact restatement, you want i.e., not e.g..

Incorrect:

“A SQL is a sales-qualified lead, e.g., a contact ready for a sales conversation.”

Correct:

“A SQL is a sales-qualified lead, i.e., a contact ready for a sales conversation.”

3. Forgetting commas or periods

Both abbreviations need periods after each letter and a comma after the abbreviation in American English. Follow this pattern in all HubSpot blog posts, help articles, and training materials to keep your brand voice consistent.

Applying This Guide Across Your HubSpot Assets

Once you understand the distinction, the next step is to apply it consistently in your HubSpot ecosystem.

Where to update e.g. and i.e. in HubSpot

Email templates: Review sales and marketing templates for incorrect abbreviation usage.
Playbooks and sequences: Clarify internal notes to make training easier for new team members.
Knowledge base articles: Use i.e. to define product terms and e.g. to offer examples for users.
Landing pages & forms: Keep copy user-friendly by using examples only where they truly help conversion.

Simple editing checklist for HubSpot writers

Ask: Am I giving examples or clarifying a definition?
Examples → use e.g.
Clarifications → use i.e.
Confirm: Did I include the periods and the comma?
Check that the sentence still reads smoothly out loud.

Quick Recap for HubSpot Writers

When you are finishing your next email, blog post, or knowledge base article inside HubSpot, remember this recap:

e.g. = “for example” → use for sample items, not full definitions.
i.e. = “that is / in other words” → use to clarify or restate precisely.
Always include periods and a following comma: e.g., and i.e.,
Use parentheses when the information is helpful but not essential to your main sentence.

Mastering these two abbreviations is a small change that produces a big improvement in your professionalism. Apply these rules consistently in all HubSpot assets, and your readers will understand your message faster and trust your expertise more.

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HubSpot Writing Guide: e.g. vs. i.e.