How do I say "A Better Paris" or "A Better France"? Is it "un Paris meilleur"?

I've been told different answers. I'd like the translation closest to the English version of "A Better New York".

I've been told that "meilleur" should precede Paris because of the descriptive nature of the adjective, but also that "Un Meilleur Paris" would confuse people with a bet -- "un meilleur paris".

I've also been told that "Une Meilleure France" or "Une France Meilleure" would sound odd to the French.

Does anyone have any advice?

Merci beaucoup!

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Permalink Reply by Chantal Savignat on April 16, 2013 at 11:24am

"un Paris meilleur", "une France meilleure", "un meilleur Paris" or "une meilleure France" ... doesn't sound odd, it sounds like a politic slogan or like a title for a politic book.

These sentences are correct

So it depends on context ... and then people can't be confused by "Paris" and "paris"

If it's a writing way : for a bet, it would be written "un meilleur pari" without "S"

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Permalink Reply by BonjourJohn on April 16, 2013 at 1:13pm

It would be for the title of a paper, so you're correct that it would be somewhat political. I'm not sure yet if it will be about Paris or France, but which phrases do you think would be best to use?

Merci beaucoup Chantel!

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Permalink Reply by Chantal Savignat on April 16, 2013 at 8:38pm

I thought about your question .... and I wonder ... I didn't see something.

"meilleur" can have 2 meanings with a slight difference :

"meilleur" = comparison

"meilleur" = the best

I think your "better" is a comparison between France in 2 situations.

if it's about France : "une France meilleure" is better. It sounds familiar. I wonder if it wasn't a political slogan in a previous election.

if it's about Paris : I found that the 2 aren't very ... nice, syntax is not wrong. Maybe because I've never heard that before. The best is "un Paris meilleur". It's "meilleur" that is not nice.

If your paper is about a subject, I think we rather say "un Paris plus xxxxx" with xxxxxx that describes the subject. (ex : un Paris plus humain)