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En effet or donc? Four connector mistakes to fix

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Use en effet to explain a claim and donc to draw a conclusion. Compare both directions, avoid the en fait trap and test four short French passages.

The short answer

En effet gives an explanation or support for what you have just said. Donc introduces a result or conclusion: Le texte est court. Je peux donc le lire maintenant. To say “actually” when correcting something, use en fait.

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Two reading-group friends selecting a thin plain book from a small stack at a café table.
Choosing a suitable text gives purpose to donc. Illustration: Atelier
  • en effetthereforeindeed; here is why

    Ce texte est facile à lire. En effet, les phrases sont courtes.This text is easy to read. Its sentences are short, which explains why.

    Start with the judgement, then support it: facile à lire → phrases courtes.

  • donchere is the explanation for my previous claimso; therefore

    Les phrases sont courtes. Le texte est donc facile à lire.The sentences are short. The text is therefore easy to read.

    Start with the reason, then draw the conclusion. Donc fits naturally after est here.

  • en faita more formal spelling of en effetactually; in fact

    Je pensais que le texte était long. En fait, il ne fait que deux pages.I thought the text was long. Actually, it is only two pages.

    Use en fait to correct the earlier impression. Ne… que means “only”.

  • En effet.a conclusion that must followThat is indeed the case.

    — Le texte a changé ? — En effet. La conclusion est nouvelle.“Has the text changed?” “Indeed it has. The conclusion is new.”

    As a short reply, En effet can confirm what the other person has said or asked.

What is the difference between en effet and donc?

Follow the direction of the link
OrderFrench
Recommendation → supporting reasonJe recommande ce cours. En effet, les explications sont claires.
Reason → recommendationLes explications sont claires. Je recommande donc ce cours.

You can rearrange the two statements when you change the connector. With en effet, the second sentence answers “Why do you say that?” With donc, it answers “What follows from that?” The word order makes the relationship easy to follow.

Choisir un texte pour le groupe
  1. Maya

    Ce texte convient à notre groupe. En effet, le sujet nous intéresse tous et le vocabulaire est accessible.

    This text suits our group: the topic interests us all and the vocabulary is accessible.

  2. Louis

    D’accord. Nous pouvons donc le choisir pour vendredi.

    All right. We can therefore choose it for Friday.

Question 1No account needed
Give supporting evidence for the first claim.Ce texte est accessible. ___, les phrases sont courtes.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

En effet. En effet introduces the short sentences as support for the claim about readability.

Question 2No account needed
Draw a practical conclusion from the first statement.Nous avons peu de temps. Nous devons ___ reporter la discussion.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

donc. Donc introduces the consequence: having little time leads to postponing the discussion.

Question 3No account needed
Correct the earlier impression.Je croyais ce texte récent. ___, il date de 1980.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

En fait. En fait corrects the idea that the text is recent by giving its actual date.

Question 4No account needed
What does the second sentence do?Je recommande ce cours. En effet, les explications sont claires.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

It supports the recommendation.. The clear explanations are offered as the reason for recommending the course.

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