The full stop ends a complete declarative sentence. It is written after a statement that affirms, describes or recounts something, such as She lives in Lyon. or The train has left. The sentence must contain a completed idea before the full stop. In a title, a list or an address, it can be omitted, but in an ordinary sentence it clearly marks the end of the statement.

The comma serves to separate elements within the sentence without stopping it. It often sets off a complement placed at the beginning, as in In the morning, I have a coffee., or several elements in a list, such as bread, cheese, fruit. It does not automatically separate the subject from the verb. One does not write *

The cat, sleeps* ; the subject group and the verb remain joined when they form a single grammatical idea.

Separate without breaking the sentence

Idea
We use a comma to separate elements of the same nature in a list.
We use a comma to set off a sentence complement placed at the beginning.
We do not use a comma between the subject and the verb in a simple sentence.

The semicolon links two independent clauses that remain close in meaning. Each part could form a sentence, but the semicolon shows a closer link than a full stop. It is often used to contrast, compare or connect two ideas, such as He wanted to leave ; he ultimately waited. The pause is stronger than with the comma, but less final than with the full stop.

Link two closely related clauses

Idea
We use the semicolon to separate two independent clauses linked by meaning.
The semicolon shows a stronger pause than a comma.

Colons announce what follows. They introduce an explanation, a consequence or a list. They are placed after a general idea, followed by the detail, such as I have good news : we are leaving tomorrow. or He forgot everything : his keys, his phone, his badge. They are also suitable before a quotation or reported speech, when a sentence clearly prepares what comes next.

Introduce an explanation and an announcement

Idea
We write a colon before an explanation or a clarification.
We write a colon before a list.
We write a colon to announce a consequence.

The question mark ends a sentence that requests information, such as Where are you going ? The exclamation mark ends a sentence that expresses an emotion, a strong order or a vivid reaction, such as What a surprise ! or Watch out ! These marks are not placed at the end of an ordinary declarative sentence. They immediately indicate the sentence’s intention.

End a sentence according to the intention

Idea
We end a direct question with a question mark.
We end an exclamatory sentence with an exclamation mark.
We do not add a full stop after the question mark or after the exclamation mark.

Parentheses surround secondary information that is added to the main sentence without modifying it. They contain a clarification, a brief comment or a date, such as Marie lives in Nantes, since 2020. or The museum opens at ten o’clock (on Tuesdays only). The content inside the parentheses remains detached from the main thread. The sentence continues correctly if it is removed.

Add a secondary clarification

Idea
We put a clarification in parentheses when it completes the main information.
Parentheses are used to give secondary information without breaking the sentence.
They can be used for a discreet remark or a clarification.

Quotation marks enclose an exact quotation, a line of dialogue or a word used in a particular way. For example, one writes He said : « I’ll be back tomorrow. » or The word « courage » often appears in this text. They indicate that the words between the quotation marks are not simply those of the narrator. In a dialogue, they can also mark speech reproduced directly.

Enclose speech and quotations

Usage	Explanation
Word-for-word quotation	We use quotation marks to reproduce exactly someone s words or speech.
Written dialogue	We use quotation marks to show that someone is speaking directly in a text.
Quoted word or particular usage	We put a word in quotation marks to signal a particular meaning or one taken with distance.

The dash is used to open each line of dialogue. At each change of speaker, a new line begins with a dash. It can also introduce an attribution that gives the speaker’s name, as in I’m coming tonight, said Paul. or, with a dash, I’m coming tonight, said Paul. The attribution remains separated from the line by the punctuation of direct speech, while the dash announces the transition from one voice to another.

Present the lines in dialogue

Idea
We put a dash at the beginning of each new line in a dialogue.
We use a dash to set off an inserted clause placed in the middle of speech.
We start again with a dash each time the speaker changes.

Ellipsis points indicate that a sentence continues in thought, that it is interrupted or that part of it remains deliberately incomplete. They appear in I don’t know... when speech hesitates, or in If only you knew... when the idea remains suspended. They can also suggest a continuation expected by the reader. They replace a clear ending with an open ending.

Show hesitation and interruption

Idea
We use ellipsis points to mark hesitation.
We use ellipsis points to show that a sentence is interrupted.
We use ellipsis points to let the rest go unsaid.

In English, certain punctuation marks generally require a non-breaking space before the mark. This is the case with the semicolon, the colon, the question mark, the exclamation mark and quotation marks. Thus one writes Why ?, Here is the answer : yes. and « Hello ! » with the space placed before the mark when typography requires it. The simple full stop, on the other hand, is attached directly to the preceding word.

Signs that take a space

Idea
In French, we put a space before the semicolon.
In French, we put a space before the colon.
In French, we put a space before the question mark.
In French, we put a space before the exclamation mark.
In French, we put a space before French quotation marks.

In direct speech, the exact words are reproduced and the punctuation retains the form of the quoted sentence. For example, one writes He asks : « Are you coming ? » In indirect speech, the content is reported without reproducing the sentence word for word, and the punctuation follows the structure of the introductory sentence, as in He asks whether you are coming. The choice between the two changes how the speech is presented, and the punctuation adapts to this form.

Adapt punctuation according to the speech

Usage	Explanation
Direct speech	We keep the punctuation of the exact speech when we quote the words spoken.
Indirect speech	We remove the punctuation of the direct quotation when we report only the content of the speech.