Possible Set Space Characters Used Around Punctuation: A Comparison Between French and Other Conventions

Possible Set of Space Characters Used Around Punctuation: French Conventions

In French typography, there are specific rules regarding the usage of space characters around punctuation marks. These conventions help ensure consistency and readability in written documents. This article will discuss the various space characters used around punctuation in French, focusing on people entities that recommend using a narrow non-breaking space character.

French Punctuation Spacing Conventions

French punctuation spacing conventions differ from English in several aspects. For instance, in French, there is a thin space before a colon (:

and a non-breaking space after a semicolon (;

and a colon (:

.

Narrow Non-Breaking Space in French

A narrow non-breaking space (  or  ) is a punctuation character that prevents line breaks while occupying less horizontal space than a regular non-breaking space. In French typography, this character is recommended around punctuation marks involving people entities.

For example, when writing about a person, it is recommended to use a narrow non-breaking space before and after the following punctuation marks:

• M. Dupont
• Mme Dupont
• Mlle Dupont

Other Punctuation Marks and Spaces

In French, a non-breaking space is used after a colon, a semicolon, and a question mark. A thin space is used before a colon, and a normal space is used before and after other punctuation marks.

Here are some examples:

• Elle m'a dit : « Je t'aime. »
• Il a réfléchi ; il a décidé de partir.
• Quel est votre nom ?
• Elle a acheté des pommes, des poires et des bananes.

French punctuation spacing conventions involve using specific space characters around various punctuation marks. A narrow non-breaking space is recommended around punctuation marks involving people entities. Adhering to these conventions helps maintain consistency and readability in French documents.

References

• Espace (typographie) - Wikipédia
• Espaces avant et après les signes de ponctuation - Orthotypographie
• Typographical pauses - Druide informatique inc.