A device of emphasis in French syntax is defined as a construction of syntactic paraphrase whose function is to make certain parts of a sentence stand out for purposes of contrast, clarification, differentiation, or because a given element is considered important. These devices exist in French because of the lack of a phonemic stress system, and they can be applied to declarative base sentences, interrogative sentences, and independent/principal clauses, or subordinate clauses. The devices emphasize by putting the element to be stressed in a strong stress position, and they introduce syntactic variety. The three most important of these syntactic devices are described: (1) the c'est...que formula, (2) emphatic insertion, and (3) emphatic disjunction. They are analyzed with regard to applicability, components, and syntactic behavior. The data consist of sentences made up for the occasion (checked with native speakers), or sentences taken from literary texts, newspapers, or magazines. (CLK)