English-language words such as hashtag, grilled-cheese, and parking are now acceptable in everyday French-language conversation in Quebec society, according to guidelines recently updated by the province鈥檚 language watchdog.

The changes were implemented in January, but the revised dictionary by the Office quebecois de la langue francaise only became widely known recently.

OQLF spokesman Jean-Pierre Le Blanc said Tuesday it鈥檚 the first time the watchdog鈥檚 guidelines have been changed since 2007.

鈥淲e鈥檙e always reviewing words to see if they鈥檙e acceptable or not,鈥� Le Blanc said in an interview. 鈥淚鈥檓 sure it鈥檚 several dozen (words) that have been anglicized.鈥�

Quebec鈥檚 language office is infamous across Canada for its strict application of the province鈥檚 language laws.

Every few months a story makes headlines across the country of some language inspector fretting over English-language signage.

The OQLF caused an international stir in 2013 when an inspector warned a popular restaurant in Montreal over its use of the Italian word, 鈥減asta,鈥� on menus, as opposed to the French word, 鈥減ates.鈥�

But the OQLF, through its website, also offers Quebecers linguistic tools and other resources on how best to use the French-language.

I must confess, I wasn't aware the Qu茅b茅cois called softball "balle-molle" but now I'm rather sad they've dropped the appelation.

鈥� Evan O'Connell (@evanoconnell)

The recent changes were made by a five-member linguistics committee composed of francophones who reviewed research done by the provincial agency.

In some cases, using both the English or the French equivalent of words got the committee鈥檚 seal of approval.

For example, the English word, 鈥減arking,鈥� may now be used in French, as can its proper French-language equivalent, 鈥渟tationnement.鈥�

Under the language bureau鈥檚 policy, words are reviewed based on a long list of detailed criteria, which include their general usage in Quebec.

Le Blanc said words from other languages have also crept into daily French usage, such as cafe latte, gelato and trattoria.

Benoit Melancon, professor of French literature at Universite de Montreal, said he understands why some Quebecers might be more worried about the use of English words 鈥� known as anglicisms 鈥� than people in France.

鈥淭he French are more comfortable using anglicisms because their language isn鈥檛 threatened in any way,鈥� he said in an interview. 鈥淏ut here, because of demographic reasons, we feel more threatened.

鈥淲e鈥檙e surrounded by anglophones so it鈥檚 normal to think that we should protect French more than in other places from words coming from different places.鈥�

He noted that in France, they use the word 鈥渇ooting鈥� instead of jogging.

鈥淔ooting doesn鈥檛 exist in English, but it鈥檚 used as an English word,鈥� Melancon said.

Melancon gave the provincial language agency top marks for having a 鈥渞ealistic鈥� policy which also encourages the use of French words.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not worth going to war over 鈥済rilled-cheese鈥� because it鈥檚 common usage,鈥� he added.

Some examples of English and French words that are both considered acceptable:

Cocktail or Coquetel

Parking or Stationnement

Grilled-cheese or Sandwich au fromage fondant

Hashtag or Mot-clic

Source: Le grand dictionnaire terminologique

Peter Rakobowchuk, The Canadian Press