Learn French: Sachez ceci : une conviction n'est pas toujours légitime. - Know this: a conviction is not always legitimate.

Sachez ceci : une conviction n'est pas toujours légitime.

Know this: a conviction is not always legitimate.

Breakdown of Sachez ceci : une conviction n'est pas toujours légitime.

not (used before the verb)

Questions & Answers about Sachez ceci : une conviction n'est pas toujours légitime.

Why use ceci here instead of cela or ça?

In written and careful spoken French, ceci points forward to something you are about to say, while cela points backward to something you just mentioned. Because the speaker is introducing the new statement une conviction n'est pas toujours légitime, ceci is the correct choice to mean 'this following thing'.

Why use sachez instead of connaissez for 'know'?

While both mean 'to know', savoir is used for facts, clauses, and information, whereas connaître is used for being familiar with a person, place, or noun. Because you are being told to know a specific fact (the entire statement that follows), the imperative of savoir (sachez) is required.

Does conviction refer to a criminal conviction here?

Usually not. While it can translate to a legal conviction depending on context, in everyday French une conviction much more commonly refers to a strong personal belief or certainty. The sentence is saying that a deeply held belief isn't always justified or right.

Why is there a space before the colon in the French sentence?