What is an aceptable abbreviation for the term for example?

You could use ex or ie. ---- Another acceptable abbreviation would be e.g. It stands for the latin "phrase," exempli gratia (I say phrase because e.g. stands for two Words and saying "It stands for the latin "Word" exempli gratia" didn't seem logical or grammatically correct). Exempli gratia translates into "for example," or literally, "for the sake of example."