Citer et ponctuer
1 · Give guillemets breathing space
Put a space after « and before ». In typeset French, non-breaking spaces keep the marks with the quoted text.
Elle emploie le mot « accessible ».She uses the word ‘accessible’.
2 · Introduce a complete statement with a colon
A reporting phrase can lead into a complete quotation. Use a space before the colon, then open the quotation with its capital letter.
Léa annonce : « Je reviendrai demain. »Léa announces: ‘I will come back tomorrow.’
3 · Keep the quoted sentence’s punctuation inside
With this full-sentence pattern, the final full stop goes before the closing guillemet. A quoted question retains its question mark, with the French space before it.
Elle demande : « Vous venez ? »She asks: ‘Are you coming?’
4 · A fragment fits into your sentence
A word or phrase quoted inside your own sentence takes no extra full stop within the guillemets. Finish the surrounding sentence after the closing mark.
Elle juge cette précision « utile ».She considers this detail ‘useful’.
5 · Use a dialogue dash for a new speaker
One common layout starts each speaker’s turn on a new line with a long dash. Other publishing styles also use guillemets around the exchange; keep one style consistent.
— Tu viens ?‘Are you coming?’
— Oui, j’arrive.‘Yes, I’m on my way.’
6 · A short reporting clause can sit inside
Commas frame a short clause such as dit Léa. When the same quoted sentence continues, its next word keeps a lower-case letter.
« Je reviens, dit Léa, après la réunion. »‘I’ll be back,’ says Léa, ‘after the meeting.’
7 · Use […] for words you remove
Square brackets distinguish your cut from hesitation in the original. Preserve the argument, including conditions and negation. An ellipsis must not turn a refusal into agreement.
« Le projet […] sera présenté lundi. »‘The project […] will be presented on Monday.’
8 · Use brackets for an added clarification
A clarification in square brackets belongs to the person quoting. Keep it brief and grounded in the surrounding passage.
« Elle [la directrice] confirme la date. »‘She [the director] confirms the date.’