What is the difference between smart quotes and straight quotes?

Smart quotes are usually curved in shape and have different opening and closing versions for use at the beginning and end of quoted material, respectively. Dumb (or straight) quotes are usually simple tapered vertical or angled marks.

What are curly quotation marks and when should we use them?

In documents we sense are not destined for email or posting on a web page, we endeavor to make the quote marks curly (a.k.a. ‘smart’). This means they curve one way or the other depending on if they are left or right (beginning of quotation or ending of quotation).

What are straight quotes used for?

Straight quotes = “dumb” quotes They’re needed for specific commands and used in strings of code, so a curly quote would cause a syntax error. If you add text to your website using HTML or markdown then it types a straight quote. If you check your emails, you’ll see that they use straight quotes as the default too.

What is the difference between quotation marks and single quotation marks?

General Usage Rules In America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the general rule is that double quotes are used to denote direct speech. Single quotes are used to enclose a quote within a quote, a quote within a headline, or a title within a quote.

Should I use straight or curly apostrophes?

There are two types of apostrophes: right and wrong. I don’t mean an apostrophe missing from the word ‘they’re’, or one gatecrashing the plurals on a restaurant menu. ‘Straight’ apostrophes are wrong and ‘curly’ apostrophes (also known as directional, typographers’ or ‘smart’ apostrophes) are right, and that is that.

Should apostrophes be straight or curly?

How do you write curly quotation marks?

Press-and-hold down the Option key and then press the curly parentheses } key found near the return key for the opening single quotation mark. Press-and-hold the Optio and Shift key and then press the curly parentheses } key found near the return key for the closing single quotation mark.

Should I use single or double quotes?

As a general rule, British usage has in the past usually preferred single quotes for ordinary use, but double quotes are now increasingly common; American usage has always preferred double quotes.

How do you change straight quotes to curly quotes in word?

To change straight quotes to curly quotes in Word on a PC: On the File tab, click Options. Click Proofing, and then click AutoCorrect Options. In the AutoCorrect dialog box, do the following: Click the AutoFormat As You Type tab, and under Replace as you type, select the “Straight quotes” with “smart quotes” checkbox.

How do you write straight quotation marks?

Single quotation marks on Windows Press-and-hold the ALT key and then type 0145 for the opening single quotation mark and ALT followed by 0146 for the closing single quotation mark.

What are straight quotation marks?

Straight quotation marks (or italicized straight quotation marks) are often used to approximate the prime and double prime, e. g., when signifying feet and inches, arcminutes and arcseconds or minutes and seconds, where the quotation mark symbolises the latter part of the pair.

What does curly quote mean?

Curly-quote meaning (typography) A shaped opening or closing quotation mark, ” or “, as distinguished from a straight quote.

When to use single quotation marks?

1) Use single quotation marks for a quotation or title (article, story, or poem) within a quotation. 2) Use quotation marks to highlight words or phrases that are not being used for their exact meaning. 3) We use quotation marks to show that a letter is being used as a letter or a word is used as a word.

What are smart quotes marks?

“ Smart quotes ” are the ideal form of quotation marks and apostrophes, and are commonly curly or sloped. “Dumb quotes,” or straight quotes, are a vestigial constraint from typewriters when using one key for two different marks helped save space on a keyboard.