In most languages, spaces are not used before punctuation marks at the end of a sentence. Period. In France, however, this rule is different, but not for all punctuation marks. Before commas and periods, the French don’t use spaces, but exclamation marks, question marks, colons, and semicolons do require one. Sometimes, clients ask us: “Why are there spaces between the last word and the question mark in this French translation?”
It’s not a typo or a stylistic error, but an established rule. A French copywriter once mentioned that he used to wonder why English and German writers didn’t place spaces before these characters.
Technically, it’s not the same space we use in Dutch, but an “espace insécable” (non-breaking space). You type it with “ALT + 0160.” This space ensures that punctuation marks like question marks or exclamation points never end up on a new line, as the space is non-breaking.
Spaces and punctuation in French and other languages
When learning French, and the French punctuation rules, punctuation may not be your primary focus—you’d probably prefer to concentrate on vocabulary and grammar. However, punctuation is a crucial aspect of any language.
French punctuation marks are recognizable: le point (period), la virgule (comma), les deux-points (colon), le point-virgule (semicolon), le point d’exclamation (exclamation point), and le point d’interrogation (question mark).
In French, the following punctuation marks always have a space before and after them:
- Exclamation marks
- Question marks
- Semicolons
- Colons
- The percentage sign
- Currency symbols
Interestingly, this French rule is somewhat similar to a Spanish one: at the beginning of a sentence ending with an exclamation mark or question mark, Spanish uses inverted punctuation marks (¡, ¿).
Spaces in text in digital communication
In addition to the rules about spacing in French punctuation, it’s also worth noting how these habits can carry over into digital communication, especially for those who frequently switch between languages. Many French speakers, when typing in English, may unconsciously add spaces before punctuation marks like exclamation points and question marks. This is likely due to muscle memory or simply habit from using the French non-breaking space rule.
Interestingly, this phenomenon isn’t limited to French speakers alone. It’s been observed that individuals who are influenced by French punctuation habits, or even those who frequently interact with French speakers, can adopt this practice without realizing it. They may add spaces before punctuation marks in English out of familiarity or simply because they are used to seeing others do it.
So why do French put a space before punctuation?
These small cultural and linguistic nuances remind us of the complexity of language and how habits formed in one language can affect our communication in another. In the era of global digital communication, these subtle influences reflect the fluid nature of how languages and punctuation conventions evolve and blend. This is particularly true in casual forms of communication, such as texting or chatting.
Do you know any other language or grammar rules similar to these? Let us know! Our language enthusiasts love discussing and exploring unique rules like these!