False friends in formal texts — réaliser, achever, procéder, former and more
Academic and Professional False Friends
These false friends appear frequently in formal texts, academic writing, and the workplace.
French
Looks like
Actual meaning
True equivalent
réaliser
to realise (UK)
to achieve / to make / to direct (a film)
se rendre compte de (to realise)
achever
to achieve
to complete / to finish (also: to kill off)
accomplir / réaliser (to achieve)
procéder
to proceed
to proceed ✓ / to carry out
—
former
to form
to train / to educate (personnel)
façonner / former (to form) — context!
résumer
to resume
to summarise
reprendre / recommencer (to resume)
Subtle Differences in Common Words
Words that are similar but not identical in meaning — the source of many B2 errors.
French
Looks like
Actual meaning
un cours
a course
a class/lesson ✓ (also correct)
une conférence
a conference
a lecture / a conference ✓ (broader)
un séminaire
a seminar ✓
a seminar (correct!)
exigeant
existing
demanding / exacting
élaborer
to elaborate
to develop / to draw up (a plan)
évoquer
to evoke
to mention / to bring up / to evoke ✓
In Formal Contexts
How these false friends appear in the kinds of texts B2 learners encounter.
Il n'a pas réalisé l'ampleur du problème. (He didn't realise the scale.) — se rendre compte would be more precise
Ils ont réalisé ce projet en six mois. (They completed/achieved this project.) ✓
J'ai résumé le rapport. (I summarised the report.) ✓ NOT resumed
Il faut former le personnel. (The staff must be trained.) ✓
Elle a élaboré un plan détaillé. (She drew up/developed a detailed plan.) ✓
Exigeant ≠ existing. Le marché est très exigeant. (The market is very demanding.)
Common Mistakes
J'ai réalisé que je me suis trompé.
→
Je me suis rendu compte que je m'étais trompé.
Réaliser = to achieve/make. To realise (become aware) = se rendre compte de. (Note: réaliser is now widely used informally for 'realise', but avoid in formal writing.)
Nous allons achever notre objectif.
→
Nous allons accomplir / atteindre notre objectif.
Achever = to complete/finish (a task that's underway). To achieve a goal = accomplir / atteindre.
Je vais résumer le travail demain. (= resume)
→
Je vais reprendre le travail demain.
Résumer = to summarise. To resume = reprendre / recommencer.
Exigeant ≠ existing
→
Le processus existant / actuel. Exigeant = demanding.
Exigeant comes from exiger (to demand/require). The existing system = le système existant / actuel.