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Selon, d’après, aux dires de, de source sûre: French source markers

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Compare four French source markers, see how attribution differs from a reliability claim, and choose wording for reports, testimony and inference.

In short

Selon and d’après identify where information or an interpretation comes from. Aux dires de foregrounds someone’s account, often with some distance. De source sûre presents the source as reliable while leaving it unnamed; that reliability is the speaker’s claim.

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A journalist listens to a manager’s account during an interview.
The manager’s account gives context to aux dires du responsable. Illustration: Atelier

Four markers, seven reading cues

1 · 1 · Selon attributes a position

Use selon + person, organisation or document to name the source. The marker alone gives no guarantee of accuracy.

Selon le rapport du comité, le dispositif reste coûteux.According to the committee’s report, the scheme remains costly.

2 · 2 · D’après also names a source

With a report or a person, d’après often overlaps with selon. Choose either when your task is simply to attribute information.

D’après la directrice, la réunion aura lieu jeudi.According to the director, the meeting will take place on Thursday.

3 · 3 · D’après can introduce an inference

With observations or evidence, d’après can mean “judging by”. The writer draws a conclusion from what is available.

D’après les résultats du questionnaire, les horaires conviennent à la majorité.Judging by the questionnaire results, the times suit the majority.

4 · 4 · Aux dires de relays an account

Les dires are someone’s statements. The phrase places responsibility for the account with that person; surrounding wording determines how sceptical it sounds.

Aux dires du responsable, personne n’avait signalé le problème.According to the manager’s account, nobody had reported the problem.

5 · 5 · De source sûre asserts reliability

Often found with savoir or apprendre, this phrase gives no name. It is stronger than merely identifying a source.

Nous savons de source sûre que le calendrier a changé.We know from a reliable source that the timetable has changed.

6 · 6 · Contract de before an article

Write aux dires du directeur and aux dires des témoins. Before a vowel, use d’; retain the accent in d’après.

Aux dires d’Émilie, le dossier était déjà complet.According to Émilie’s account, the file was already complete.

7 · 7 · Read the verb as well

A reporting conditional can mark unconfirmed information. A marker and a verb work together; selon by itself never forces the conditional.

Selon plusieurs témoins, le responsable aurait quitté la réunion.According to several witnesses, the manager reportedly left the meeting.

Choose the relationship before choosing the phrase
RelationshipUseful wordingWhat it contributes
A named document states somethingselon le rapportExplicit attribution
You infer something from datad’après les donnéesAn evidential basis for your reading
You relay a person’s versionaux dires de la responsableTheir account remains identifiable
You vouch for an unnamed sourcede source sûreYour claim about reliability

Two markers can fit the same factual sentence. The task below asks for a specific relationship: someone’s version, an inference, or an explicit assurance of reliability. Read that relationship before considering the options.

Question 1No account needed
Relay the manager’s own version, with distance from that account.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Aux dires de la responsable. Aux dires de explicitly presents the manager’s account as the source of the statement.

Question 2No account needed
You infer likely satisfaction from questionnaire results. Choose the matching basis.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

D’après les réponses au questionnaire. The questionnaire responses are evidence from which you draw an inference, so d’après fits.

Question 3No account needed
The journalist leaves the source unnamed and explicitly vouches for its reliability.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

De source sûre. De source sûre asserts reliability while leaving the source’s identity unstated.

Question 4No account needed
What does this sentence establish about the writer’s position?Selon le comité, le projet est viable.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The writer attributes the claim to the committee.. Selon names whose claim is being reported; it leaves the writer’s own endorsement open.

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