''Le Bon Usage'' (, ''Good Usage''), informally called ''Le Grevisse'', is a descriptive book about
French grammar first published in 1936 by
Maurice Grevisse
Maurice Grevisse (;Maurice Grevisse about the pronunciation of his name, http://www.ina.fr/video/CPB08008704/maurice-grevisse-video.html 7 October 1895 – 4 July 1980) was a Belgian grammarian.
Biography
Born in Rulles, a small village in the p ...
, and periodically revised since. It describes the usage of the
French language, primarily in its written literary form.
Description
Quite extensive (1600 pages), it includes numerous examples and counter-examples taken from Francophone literature of various periods, including newspapers, to form a reference for teachers of French, and in particular, authors and editors.
Editions
In 1936, the first edition was published by De Boeck Supérieur (then named Duculot). A new edition was published in 1939, and another in 1946. The book was awarded the gold medal of the
Académie française. The high praise of
André Gide
André Paul Guillaume Gide (; 22 November 1869 – 19 February 1951) was a French author and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature (in 1947). Gide's career ranged from its beginnings in the symbolist movement, to the advent of anticolonialism ...
in the literary supplement of ''
Le Figaro
''Le Figaro'' () is a French daily morning newspaper founded in 1826. It is headquartered on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. The oldest national newspaper in France, ''Le Figaro'' is one of three French newspapers of r ...
'' in February 1947 contributed to its success.
After the death of Grevisse in 1980, his son-in-law
André Goosse, also a grammarian, took over and published the 12th and 13th (1993) editions. The 14th edition was published in August 2007 in a completely new format. The 15th edition appeared in 2011. Since then there has been a 16th edition.
Online Copy
''Le Bon Usage'' is available on-line by paid subscription.
See also
*
French grammar
References
External links
*
Official website*
Biographical notice from the 13th edition*
Guy Lemaire raconte: Maurice Grevisse RTBF journalist Guy Lemaire on Grevisse, 2005
French grammar
Belgian books
Grammar books
Style guides
1936 non-fiction books
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