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MONTREAL — Subway riders here are accustomed to rush-hour service interruptions, broken escalators and surly ticket-sellers, but it turns out another flaw has gone undetected since the métro was inaugurated nearly 50 years ago: improper syntax.

In a move that will make Montreal’s subway network more French than France, the Société de transport de Montréal has decided to add prepositions and articles to the names of 20 of its stations. All along, Place-des-Arts, Champ-de-Mars and Vendôme were wrong; from now on they are to be known as de la Place-des-Arts, du Champ-de-Mars and de Vendôme.

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In May, the STM received approval for the changes from the Quebec government’s Commission de toponymie, which oversees place names in the province and insists on correct French.

Amélie Régis, a spokeswoman for the STM, said the changes would not result in any immediate additional cost because signage and maps will be replaced gradually over time. “We will do it when we have updates to make,” she said.