capitalization - When using complete sentences in parenthetical e.g. or i.e. situations, should the first word be capitalized?


In a bulleted list of very technical sentences, where each bulleted item has one or two parenthetical examples or restatements which are complete sentences, should the first letter of each e.g. or i.e. sentence be capitalized or not?


Example:



  • Here is my technical sentence. (e.g., Should the first word of this e.g. be capitalized like this?)

  • Here is another technical sentence. (i.e., this really isn't a i.e. different example to highlight whether the first word should or should not be capitalized after a parenthetical i.e.)



Answer



A parenthetical statement that is a complete sentence should begin with a capital. Your examples are wrong, however, because you should begin by capitalizing the first letter of the abbreviation i.e. or e.g.:



Here is my technical sentence. (E.g., should the word of this example be capitalized like this?)


Here is another technical sentence. (I.e., this really isn't an i.e., I just want to know if the first word should or should not be capitalized and am providing an example of yes and no.)



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