In French, there is no space before or after an apostrophe. Wrong: c’ est (space after). Correct: c’est . Also wrong: c ‘est (space before). The apostrophe hugs the following letter.
For most readers, BÉPO is niche. But if you type French daily for hours, it's worth exploring. Mistake 1: Using the grave accent key instead of the apostrophe. On AZERTY, the grave accent key ( ) is to the left of the 'P' key. Some beginners confuse it with the apostrophe. Result: l ère instead of l’ère . The grave accent is a diacritic, not a punctuation mark. apostrophe in french keyboard
To type a curly apostrophe on Windows: Alt + 0146 (on numpad). On Mac: Option + Shift + ] (on some layouts) or use the Emoji & Symbols viewer (Control + Command + Space). On Linux: Compose + ' + > (sometimes). But honestly, for 99% of users, the straight apostrophe is fine. | Scenario | Recommended Action | |----------|---------------------| | You live in France/Europe | Use AZERTY keyboard. Press key right of 'M'. | | You use a US QWERTY but type French occasionally | Use the standard apostrophe key (right of semicolon). Avoid US-International layout or remember apostrophe+space. | | You type French daily but prefer QWERTY | Add Canadian French (CSA) layout or use US layout with a text expander (e.g., replace l' with l’ ). | | You type French on a phone | Set keyboard to French (France). Tap the apostrophe key. | | You are a programmer writing French strings | Always use straight apostrophe (ASCII 39). | | You are writing a novel in French | Use straight apostrophe for compatibility; if publishing, convert to curly apostrophe in final pass. | Conclusion The apostrophe in French is small but mighty, and mastering its input on a keyboard is a rite of passage for learners and a daily reality for natives. On a proper French AZERTY keyboard, it sits conveniently to the right of the M, waiting to unite le and arbre into l'arbre with a single keystroke. On other systems, a little customization—whether switching layouts, learning Alt codes, or simply retraining muscle memory—goes a long way. The next time you type j’aime la France , remember: that tiny mark is not just punctuation; it's the sound of French flowing freely. And now you know exactly how to type it. In French, there is no space before or after an apostrophe
For a French typist, this is intuitive. The apostrophe is used so frequently (e.g., c'est, l'homme, d'accord ) that it deserves a prime spot on the home row of the right hand. You can type j'apprends le français without lifting your fingers far. The trouble begins when a non-French keyboard user tries to write in French. On a standard US QWERTY keyboard, the apostrophe key is present, but it behaves differently in certain software or might be confused with a single quote. However, the real issue is muscle memory and autocorrect . Also wrong: c ‘est (space before)