You are writing a professional email and you hesitate: should you write “en tout point” or “en tous points”? This question comes up often, and the answer can be summed up in one sentence. Both forms are correct in French. The Dictionary of the French Academy lists “en tout point” as an adverbial phrase, while Le Robert accepts both spellings without indicating any error.
Singular or plural after “tout”: the grammatical logic behind the choice
The word “tout” can function as an indefinite adjective or as an adverb. In “en tout point,” “tout” plays a role similar to that of an adverb: it means “entirely,” “completely.” The singular emphasizes totality, as if one were speaking of an indivisible whole.
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In “en tous points,” “tous” is an adjective that agrees in the plural with “points.” The phrase then suggests that each aspect has been examined one by one, and that each confirms the judgment. The plural details where the singular synthesizes.
When you seek to clarify the spelling of en tout point or en tous points, remember that the nuance remains stylistic. No grammarian penalizes either form.
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Here’s how to choose according to the context:
- You describe overall conformity, without going into details: “en tout point” in the singular is more suitable (“This result is in every respect in line with expectations”).
- You review several distinct criteria or aspects: the plural sounds more natural (“This candidate meets the profile sought in every respect”).
- In an exam or competition setting, the singular is the safest choice, as it corresponds to the implicit recommendation of the French Academy and the dominant usage in contemporary French.
“À tout point de vue” and “à tous points de vue”: same rule or different trap?
Competitors discussing this topic almost always stop at “en tout point.” Does the neighboring expression “à tout point de vue” / “à tous points de vue” follow the same logic?
The grammatical mechanics are identical. “Tout” can remain in the singular (globalizing value) or switch to the plural (distributive value). “À tout point de vue” means “from any angle” taken as a whole. “À tous points de vue” means “regardless of the angle examined, one by one.”
A usage difference to note
In practice, “à tous points de vue” in the plural clearly dominates in published texts, unlike “en tout point” where the singular remains predominant. The explanation lies in the presence of the complement “de vue” which anchors the plural: one visualizes several distinct viewpoints, making the plural more intuitive.
With “en tout point,” the absence of a complement leaves “point” more abstract, closer to a global meaning. Thus, the singular works better.
Remember this practical rule: when “point” is followed by a complement, the plural seems more natural. When it stands alone, the singular suffices. Both remain grammatically acceptable in each case.
Common mistakes with “tout” in fixed expressions
The confusion between “tout” and “tous” is not limited to this expression. It affects several phrases in everyday French. Understanding the rule behind “en tout point” helps avoid other mistakes.
When “tout” remains invariable
“Tout” does not take the plural form when it functions as an adverb. You can verify this by replacing it with “completely” or “entirely”: if the sentence retains its meaning, “tout” is an adverb and remains invariable.
Examples: “She is tout surprised” (completely surprised). “They are tout shocked” (entirely shocked). The exception concerns the feminine before a consonant or aspirated h: “She is toute happy,” “They are toutes ashamed.”
When “tous” takes an s
“Tous” is written with an s when it is an adjective or pronoun in the masculine plural. “Tous les matins,” “they are tous there.” The trap: orally, the s of “tous” is silent before a noun (“tous les jours”) but pronounced when “tous” is a pronoun (“they all come”).
This oral/written distinction explains why so many writers hesitate. In writing, only the grammatical context decides.
Summary to no longer hesitate between “en tout point” and “en tous points”
| Expression | Recommended form | Why |
|---|---|---|
| En tout point / en tous points | Both are correct, singular preferred by the Academy | “Tout” = adverb (globality) or adjective (distribution) |
| À tout point de vue / à tous points de vue | Both are correct, plural more common | The complement “de vue” makes the plural more intuitive |
| Tout + feminine adjective + consonant | Agreement in the feminine: “toute,” “toutes” | Exception to the invariability of the adverb “tout” |
The French language often tolerates two spellings where one might expect a single answer. For “en tout point,” the singular remains the most defensible choice when facing a proofreader or during an exam like Projet Voltaire. In everyday text, the plural does not constitute a mistake. The real error would be to write “en tout points” (singular adjective + plural noun), a combination that does not exist in any reference grammar.