The Use of the Colon in French
What are colons used for in French?
The colon (les deux points, le double-point) is used to introduce or announce something. It draws our attention to what follows—what is about to be said. It is most often used to introduce a direct quotation, an enumeration, or additional information.
Contents
Direct speech
A colon is used to introduce one or more sentences in direct speech. It is placed immediately after the introductory clause and before the quotation marks. If the quotation is a complete sentence, it begins with a capital letter.
- Example:
- Voltaire a dit : « Je ne suis pas d’accord avec ce que vous dites, mais je me battrai jusqu’à la mort pour que vous ayez le droit de le dire. »Voltaire said:“I do not agree with what you say, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it.”
- Mon frère me murmura à l’oreille : « Allons vite nous cacher pour surprendre Mathilde ! »My brother whispered in my ear:“Let’s quickly hide to surprise Mathilde!”
Info
The colon usually disappears in indirect speech, because the reported speech is closely linked to the introductory clause. However, a colon may still be used to introduce indirect speech if it is independent of the introductory clause.
- Example:
- L’un des participants au grand consortium nia tout : on n’avait rien su des fraudes commises par le directeur général.One of the participants in the large consortium denied everything no one had known about the fraud committed by the managing director.
Note that a colon should not be used if the quotation is integrated into the sentence.
- Example:
- Dans Le Mythe de Sisyphe, Albert Camus écrivait qu’« un exemple n’est pas forcément un exemple à suivre ».In The Myth of Sisyphus, Albert Camus wrote that “an example is not necessarily an example to follow.”
Introductory function
The colon can be used to introduce an example, explanation, definition, justification, summary, consequence, etc. In this case, the sentence following the colon begins with a lowercase letter (unless it starts with a proper noun).
Additional details and information
Details or additional information—whether a full sentence or a single word—can sometimes be introduced by a colon.
- Example:
- Madeleine est clouée au lit : elle a eu un accident de vélo hier et s’est tordu la cheville.Madeleine is stuck in bed:she had a bicycle accident yesterday and twisted her ankle.
- Monsieur Vincent ne viendra pas : il a été retenu à Londres.Mr Vincent will not come: he has been held up in London.
- 1789 : Révolution française1789: French Revolution
Explanations (summaries, consequences, justification, etc.)
A colon can introduce an explanation. The two parts of the sentence (before and after the colon) are interdependent, since the information introduced by the colon completes the previous statement.
- Example:
- J’aime les poèmes de Verlaine : ses vers me transportent dans un autre monde. (explanation)I like Verlaine’s poems: his lines transport me to another world.
- Sophie n’est pas très bonne en maths : elle a toujours besoin d’une calculatrice. (consequence)Sophie is not very good at maths: she always needs a calculator.
- Madame Durand est en retard : son réveil n’a pas sonné. (justification)Madame Durand is late: her alarm clock didn’t ring.
- Voici la situation : nous avons trouvé deux indices et trois clés, il nous reste encore cinq épreuves puis nous devrons résoudre l’énigme. (summary)Here is the situation: we have found two clues and three keys, we still have five challenges left, then we must solve the riddle.
- Le Musée Gustave Moreau : un petit bijou niché au cœur du 9ème arrondissement de Paris. (presentation, evaluation)The Gustave Moreau Museum: a small jewel nestled in the heart of Paris’s 9th arrondissement.
Enumerations
Enumerations are also often introduced by a colon.
- Example:
- Pour le cours de Yoga, les seules choses que vous devrez apporter sont : des vêtements de sport confortables (pas trop larges), un tapis de Yoga et un serviette.For the yoga class, the only things you need to bring are: comfortable sports clothes (not too loose), a yoga mat and a towel.
- Cette année, nous avons étudié les œuvres de nombreux auteurs : Stendhal, Flaubert, Huysmans, Beckett, Sartre, Rimbaud et Gide.This year, we studied the works of many authors: Stendhal, Flaubert, Huysmans, Beckett, Sartre, Rimbaud and Gide.
Administrative documents, certificates, programmes, etc.
Colons often appear in administrative or official documents, certificates and programmes. They introduce a person’s name or related information, grades, or additional details (such as schedules or cast lists).
- Example:
- Nom : André Exemple
Adresse : 10 rue de la Serpe, 75004 Paris - Chant : Sonia Diva
Guitare : Émile Le Galant
Basse : Hélène Amandier
Batterie : Pascal Spartiate - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart : Don Giovanni
Direction musicale : Patrick Lange - Départ : 8h34
Arrivée : 10h55 - Pièce jointe : compte rendu de la réunion du 12/10/2014
