What Are Quotation Marks in French?
In French, quotation marks are referred to as “les guillemets.” Unlike the English style quotation marks (“ ”), French uses a unique set of angular or double chevron marks: « and ». These marks serve the same purpose as their English counterparts, but their usage and formatting follow specific conventions unique to French writing.
How to Use French Quotation Marks: Basic Rules
The Standard French Quotation Marks: « and »
In formal French writing, the standard quotation marks are the angular guillemets: « … ». These are typically used to enclose direct speech, quotations, or cited text. For example:
Marie a dit : « Je viens demain. »
Notice that in French, a space is required both after the opening « and before the closing » quotation marks. This space is typically a non-breaking space (espace insécable) in professional typesetting, but regular spaces are often used in informal writing.
Spacing Rules
Proper spacing is an important distinction between French and English usage. In French, you should include a (non-breaking) space between the guillemets and the quoted text:
Correct: « Bonjour ! »
Incorrect: «Bonjour!»
While casual online writing may sometimes ignore this rule, formal and academic writing always respects these spaces.
Using Quotation Marks for Dialogue
When writing dialogue in French, each new speaker’s words are often introduced on a new line with a dash (–) and enclosed within guillemets. For example:
« Tu viens ce soir ? » demanda Paul.
– Oui, je serai là à huit heures, répondit Marie.
Notice that the dash introduces the new speaker, while the guillemets may only appear at the beginning and end of the dialogue, or around the entire quoted section depending on style guides.
Nested Quotations
If you need to include a quotation within another quotation, French uses double quotation marks (“ ”) inside the guillemets. For example:
Le professeur expliqua : « Quand Victor Hugo a écrit “Les Misérables”, il voulait montrer l’injustice sociale. »
Here, the inner quotation uses English-style quotation marks to distinguish it from the main quoted text.
Quotation Marks for Titles and Emphasis
Unlike English, French does not use quotation marks for book, film, or article titles. Instead, italics are preferred in print, while quotation marks might be used in handwritten or informal contexts. For example:
J’ai lu Le Petit Prince hier soir.
However, guillemets can be used for emphasis or when introducing a new or unusual term:
Il a inventé un nouveau mot : « franglais ».
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using English-style quotation marks (“ ”) instead of guillemets (« »): Remember to use the correct French punctuation for formal writing.
- Forgetting the spaces inside guillemets: Always add a space after « and before ».
- Incorrect usage for titles: Use italics for titles, not quotation marks, in most cases.
Practical Tips for Learners
- If you are typing on an English keyboard, you can insert guillemets (« ») using special character codes: Alt + 0171 for « and Alt + 0187 for » on Windows, or Option + and Shift + Option + on Mac.
- Read French books, articles, and dialogues to see quotation marks used in context. This helps reinforce correct usage naturally.
- Practice writing short dialogues or paraphrasing quotes using guillemets to become comfortable with the structure and spacing.
Conclusion
Understanding how to use quotation marks in written French is a vital skill for anyone learning the language. From following proper spacing rules to choosing the right punctuation for dialogue and nested quotes, attention to these details will help you write like a native. For more tips on mastering French writing and punctuation, be sure to explore other resources on Talkpal, your trusted AI language learning blog. Bonne écriture !
