Joaquin Cuenca Abela <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in
[EMAIL PROTECTED]:">news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]:

>> Actually, it shouldn't be the U+00A0 full-width non-breaking
>> word space, but a narrower non-breaking space
>> (perhaps a 'thin
>> space' -- I don't remember, but I believe there is some
>> information on this at the Unicode Web site).
>
> do you mean a quarter of a cadratin?  I don't know for
> sure.  You should use a thin space before ?! and such
> in frech, but I don't know if it's a thin space or a
> full one after and before the opening and closing
> quotes (after a quick search in the net, it seems that
> it's a full space, but I don't know if the authors of
> the pages that I've consulted are right here).

I found this Microsoft page
<URL:http://www.microsoft.com/typography/developers/fdsspec/punc.htm>,
which says:

        Language note: In French typographic usage the colon
        (deux-points) is preceded by a non-breaking word space
        (espace mots ins�cable) and followed by a normal word
        space. The semi-colon (point-virgule) is preceded by a
        non-breaking thin space (espace fine ins�cable) and
        followed by a normal word space. In Microsoft Word 97
        the non-breaking space U+00A0 is automatically inserted
        when the French language is selected and a colon or
        semi-colon are typed.

        Traditionally in French typography the left pointing
        guillemets are followed by a non-breaking word space or
        thin space of 1/8 the em and the right proceeded by a
        non-breaking word space or thin space of 1/8 the em.

        Language note: In French typographic usage the left
        pointing guillemet - guillemet ourvant is followed by a
        non-breaking word space (espace mots ins�cable) and the
        right pointing guillemet - guillemet fermant is preceded
        by a non-breaking word space. In Microsoft Word 97 the
        non-breaking space U+00A0 is automatically inserted when
        the French language is selected and a guillemet is
        typed. Some French typographers prefer to use a
        non-breaking thin space (espace fine ins�cable) with the
        guillemets.

        Language note: In French typographic usage the question
        and exclamation marks (point d'exclamation et point
        d'interrogation) are preceded by a non-breaking thin
        space (espace fine ins�cable) and followed by a normal
        word space. In Microsoft Word 97 the non-breaking space
        U+00A0 is automatically inserted when the French
        language is selected and a exclamation or question mark
        are typed.

-- 
Karl Ove Hufthammer

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