In a nutshell | It is better

The French language is evolving at breakneck speed. Each week, our language advisor dissects the words and expressions that make the headlines or give us trouble.

In careful language, and therefore in writing, one still distinguishes this and that.

“ That said should be used to refer to the words just spoken. To avoid that said which, despite its frequency in relaxed oral expression, remains inadvisable,” reads the Dictionary of the difficulties and pitfalls of the French language. Different variants are possible: that (being) said, that (being) do, that being ; this means that.

The demonstrative pronoun this means “the nearest thing; what will follow or simply one thing opposed to another”. And that designates “what is further away; what precedes “. The examples provided by the Computerized French Language Treasury and the Linguistic Help Bank of the Office québécois de la langue française help to understand the difference: This is mine, this is yours. This is beautiful, this is ugly. Don’t talk to him about that anymore, but tell him this instead. Here, take this! Bring me that! Remind employees of this: they are not allowed to leave before 5 p.m. Employees are not allowed to leave before 5 p.m.: remind them of this.

We distinguish the prepositions here is and so in the same way. This time, in everyday language, it is so which is used instead of here is.

“In neat expression, here is applies either to a person or thing relatively close to the person speaking, or to what is going to be said or done,” explains the Dictionary of the difficulties and pitfalls of the French language. ” So applies either to a person or thing remote from the person speaking, or to what has been said or done. » Here is what I have to tell you. There, all is said.

Otherwise, here is and so can be used in the same sentence, to distinguish two things or two people. Here is my place, here is yours.