Should there be a comma after "i.e."?



If I remember correctly from English class, then one should put a comma after "i.e.", i.e., the Latin abbreviation for id est.


But lately I've seen the comma after "i.e." dropped in books. So what is the rule or consensus here if any?



Answer



Some books & journals use American English, while some use British English. In the American style of writing, a comma is inserted before and after i.e. However, in the British style of writing, a comma is inserted before but not after i.e.


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