Punctuation mastery
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词汇
- un tiret cadratinan em dash
- un point-virgulea semicolon
- les deux-pointsthe colon
- les points de suspensionthe ellipsis
- une parenthétiquea parenthetical
- une propositiona clause
- les guillemetsthe quotation marks
- une virgule abusivea comma splice
- un fragmenta fragment
- une phrase fleuvea run-on sentence
French Punctuation: Beyond the Basics
French punctuation follows distinct rules that differ significantly from English.
Spacing Rules
French requires a non-breaking space before double punctuation marks: semicolons (;), colons (:), exclamation marks (!), and question marks (?). This is a hallmark of correct French typography.
The Semicolon (le point-virgule)
Used to link two closely related independent clauses. In French literary writing, the semicolon creates a balanced rhythm between ideas — stronger than a comma but softer than a period.
Il ne parlait jamais de son passé ; on sentait pourtant qu'il en portait le poids.
The Em Dash (le tiret cadratin)
In French, em dashes introduce dialogue (replacing quotation marks) and create parenthetical insertions. Note: French uses guillemets « » for quotation, not English-style quotes.
« Je ne comprends pas, dit-il — et pourtant il comprenait très bien —, pourquoi vous insistez. »
The Ellipsis (les points de suspension)
Always three dots, never more. They suggest hesitation, interruption, or an unfinished thought. In formal writing, overuse is considered amateurish.
Common Pitfalls
- La virgule abusive: Splicing two independent clauses with just a comma (incorrect in French as in English)
- La phrase fleuve: Endless sentences with too many subordinate clauses — restructure for clarity
- Fragments: Acceptable in literary style but inappropriate in formal writing
表达
- ouvrir/fermer les guillemetsto open/close quotation marks
- entre parenthèsesin parentheses / as an aside
- à la lignenew paragraph / line break
- mettre un point finalto put an end to something (lit. put a period)
- sans point ni virgulewithout stopping, in one breath
常见错误
Il est venu,il a parléIl est venu, il a parléAlways add a space after a comma in French
Pourquoi?Pourquoi ?French requires a non-breaking space before question marks
Il a dit: "bonjour"Il a dit : « bonjour »Use guillemets (« ») in French, not English quotation marks, and space before colon
Elle est partie...car elle avait peurElle est partie… car elle avait peurUse proper ellipsis character with space after, not three separate dots
Le soleil,la lune,et les étoilesLe soleil, la lune et les étoilesNo comma before « et » in French (no Oxford comma), and spaces after commas
小测验
第 1 题，共 5 题
「a parenthetical」用法语怎么说？
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