semicolon/comma before ie and eg, depending on what follows

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

I’m editing a manuscript and want to put this puppy to bed tonight.

To sum it up, do we place a semicolon before “e.g.” if what follows is a complete sentence (independent clause)?

There are many ways she can earn money for her tuition; e.g., she can sell her two unused Lamborghinis.
(What follows “e.g.” is in fact an independent clause, so we’d use a semicolon before “e.g.,” correct?)

He brought some of the items requested, e.g., a level, three hammers, and a truckload of sheet rock. (What follows “e.g.” is not an independent clause, so we’d use a comma before “e.g.,” correct?)

Thank you.

2

My view is:

Your observation in respect of the first sentence is acceptable.

In the second case a dash without the ‘e.g.’ should be better.

He brought some of the items requested – a level, three hammers, and a truckload of sheet rock. (There is also a tendency to use a colon in such contexts, though)

3

The comma looks odd following the ‘e.g.’

e.g. she can sell her two unused Lamborghinis.

4

Bev, in an answer to some post on this Forum very recently I have seen you use ‘different to’ rather than ‘different from’ (or even ‘different than’).

As I know you cannot go so easily careless or incorrect, I have checked it and found this statement now under the link oxforddictionaries.com/us/words/ … o-american:

Different to, although common in British English, is disliked by traditionalists and sounds strange to American ears.

I would like to know if it is so common among the Bristish as is stated above, especially when all of my educated friends and I have not heard any Briton speak that way whenever we chance to meet them. Let alone the BBC.

5

It is commonplace.