To strongly correct a false assumption and emphasize the truth, French uses the structure non pas... mais... (not... but...).
You place non pas directly in front of the misconception, and mais directly in front of the correct information.
| This bat, it is not a bird, but a mammal. | Cette chauve-souris, c'est non pas un oiseau, mais un mammifère. |
| These sharks attack not men, but fish. | Ces requins attaquent non pas les hommes, mais les poissons. |
Notice how this structure creates a direct contrast. It is perfect for debunking urban legends and correcting myths. You can use it to contrast nouns, adjectives, or even entire phrases.
| It is not slaves, but workers who built the pyramid. | Ce sont non pas des esclaves, mais des ouvriers qui ont construit la pyramide. |
| Love, it is not blind, but patient. | L'amour, il est non pas aveugle, mais patient. |
When contrasting reasons or methods, make sure to keep the structure parallel. If the false information uses a preposition like pour (to/for) or par (by/out of), the true information requires a preposition to balance the sentence.
| The ostrich hides its head not out of fear, but to eat. | L'autruche cache sa tête non pas par peur, mais pour manger. |
| The chameleon changes color not to hide its body, but to show its mood. | Le caméléon change de couleur non pas pour cacher son corps, mais pour montrer son humeur. |
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