Questions & Answers about Ceci est justifié, mais cela est inacceptable.
Why use ceci and cela here instead of the usual c'est?
How do we know which idea takes ceci and which takes cela?
Just like in English, ceci ("this") points to the idea that feels conceptually "closer" to the speaker, while cela ("that") points to the idea that is "further away." When paired in a single sentence like this, their main job is just to separate Idea A from Idea B, though ceci is often used for the point the speaker currently wants to focus on.
If "this" and "that" refer to a feminine noun, like une action, would the adjectives become feminine?
Would a French speaker actually say this exact sentence in casual conversation?