Breakdown of Ceci est une contradiction : accepter la norme.
être
to be
une
a / an (feminine)
accepter
to accept
ceci
this
Questions & Answers about Ceci est une contradiction : accepter la norme.
Why did the speaker use ceci here instead of cela?
Ceci is generally used to introduce an idea that is about to be stated (it points forward). Cela usually refers back to something that was already said (it points backward). Because the explanation of the contradiction comes right after the colon, ceci is the perfect choice for pointing the reader to the upcoming text.
Could I just say C'est une contradiction instead of Ceci est?
Yes, and in everyday spoken French, you almost certainly would. However, ceci est is used in formal or written contexts to create a stronger rhetorical effect. It deliberately builds anticipation, making the listener or reader pause and pay close attention to the definition that follows.
Why does the English translation use "accepting", but the French uses the infinitive accepter?
When English uses an "-ing" verb as a noun to express a general concept (a gerund), French relies on the infinitive. If you tried to use a present participle like en acceptant, it would change the meaning to "while accepting" or "by accepting", rather than identifying the act of acceptance itself as the contradiction.
Is the spacing around the colon a typo?
No, it's a strict rule of French typography! Unlike in English, you must put a space before as well as after two-part punctuation marks like colons, semicolons, exclamation points, and question marks.