de surcroît
Moreover with De Surcroit
De surcroît is a high-level connector used in formal writing to add a final, clinching point to an argument. It translates to 'moreover,' 'furthermore,' or 'to boot.'
How It Works
De surcroît is a locution adverbiale (adverbial phrase) primarily found in academic, legal, and journalistic French. It serves to reinforce a previous statement by adding a significant piece of information.
1. Placement in a Sentence:
- Initial: Used to start a sentence, followed by a comma. De surcroît, il a plu toute la journée.
- Medial: Placed between commas to add an attribute. C'est une solution efficace et, de surcroît, économique.
- Final: Placed at the end of a sentence for emphasis. Il est impoli et menteur de surcroît.
2. Nuance and Register:
While it can be used for negative additions (adding a final misfortune), it is generally neutral and focuses on the hierarchy of arguments. It signals that the speaker is providing a 'bonus' reason that should remove any remaining doubt.
3. Pronunciation:
The final -t is silent ([də syʁ.kʁwa]). Even in formal speech, liaison with a following vowel is rare because the phrase is usually followed by a pause.
Examples (4)
- Le projet est ambitieux et, de surcroît, parfaitement réalisable.
The project is ambitious and, what's more, perfectly feasible.
Word by Word: The project is ambitious and, of increase, perfectly realizable.
Here, 'de surcroît' is used medially to add a positive, reinforcing attribute to the project.
- De surcroît, les résultats de l'étude confirment notre hypothèse initiale.
Furthermore, the results of the study confirm our initial hypothesis.
Word by Word: Of increase, the results of the study confirm our hypothesis initial.
Used at the beginning of the sentence to introduce a strong supporting fact in a formal context.
- Il a perdu ses clés et il a manqué son train de surcroît.
He lost his keys and he missed his train to boot.
Word by Word: He has lost his keys and he has missed his train of increase.
Used at the end of the sentence to emphasize a final negative event in a series of misfortunes.
- Cette mesure est impopulaire et, de surcroît, inefficace.
This measure is unpopular and, moreover, ineffective.
Word by Word: This measure is unpopular and, of increase, ineffective.
In this formal critique, 'de surcroît' adds a second, more damning reason why the measure is bad.
Common Mistakes
Using 'au surcroît' instead of 'de surcroît'.
Il est intelligent et au surcroît très riche.Il est intelligent et de surcroît très riche.The Académie française notes that 'au surcroît' is a common error. You must use the preposition 'de' (or occasionally 'par').
Register mismatch (using it in casual conversation).
Je vais au supermarché, de surcroît j'achète du pain.Je vais au supermarché, et en plus j'achète du pain.'De surcroît' is very formal. Using it for mundane tasks like grocery shopping sounds pompous or 'snooty.' Use 'en plus' for daily life.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'de surcroît', learners should already be comfortable with other logical connectors that add information (like 'de plus' or 'en outre'). Since it is a formal expression, it is typically introduced after the learner has learned basic sentence structure and common transition words.
Related Patterns
- de plusFurthermore with De Plus
'De plus' is the standard, neutral way to say 'furthermore' in most contexts.
Level 4 - qui plus estWhat Is More with Qui Plus Est
This phrase is a close synonym used to add an even more important point, often used in similar formal registers.
Level 5 - en effetIndeed with En Effet
While 'de surcroît' adds new info, 'en effet' confirms or explains the previous point.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice de surcroît in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes French lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
