15th edition (2011) | |
| Author | Maurice Grevisse |
|---|---|
| Language | French |
| Subject | French grammar |
| Genre | Reference work |
| Publisher | Duculot / De Boeck Supérieur |
Publication date | 1936 |
| Publication place | Belgium |
| Pages | 1,760 (16th ed.) |
Le Bon Usage (French pronunciation: [lə bɔn‿yzaʒ], Correct Usage), informally called Le Grevisse, is a descriptive grammar of French first published in 1936 by Maurice Grevisse, and periodically revised since.[1] It describes the usage of the French language, primarily in its written literary form.
Description
Quite extensive (1,760 pages in the 16th edition), it includes numerous examples and counter-examples (40,000 citations) taken from Francophone literature of various periods, including newspapers, forming a reference for teachers of French, and in particular, authors, translators, and editors.[1]
Editions

In 1936, the first edition was published by Duculot (later De Boeck Supérieur).[1] A new edition was published in 1939, and another in 1946. In 1946, the book was awarded the gold medal of the Académie française.[2] The high praise of André Gide in the literary supplement of Le Figaro in February 1947 contributed to its success.[3] In 1980, Bernard Pivot dedicated an episode of Apostrophes to the book following Grevisse's death.[1]
After Grevisse's death in 1980, his son-in-law André Goosse, also a grammarian, took over and published the 12th and 13th (1993) editions.[1][2] The 14th edition was published in August 2007 in a new format. The 15th edition appeared in 2011. The 16th edition was published in 2016 to mark the 80th anniversary of the book.[1]
Online
As of 1 January 2023, Le Bon Usage is no longer available online.[4]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Grevisse : une référence historique en langue française". Grevisse.fr (in French). 5 April 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ a b "Maurice Grevisse". De Boeck Supérieur (in French). Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ "M. Grevisse répond à toutes les questions flottantes; y répond si pertinemment que je n'aurais qu'à le copier pour satisfaire aux inquiétudes et aux doutes de mes plus scrupuleux correspondants. Je les invite à s'adresser directement à ce remarquable ouvrage." André Gide, Figaro littéraire, 8 February 1947
- ^ "Bienvenue sur la page du Bon Usage". Grevisse.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 3 December 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
External links
- (in French) Official website
- (in French) Biographical notice from the 13th edition
- (in French) Guy Lemaire raconte: Maurice Grevisse RTBF journalist Guy Lemaire on Grevisse, 2005
