Straight vs Curly Quotes: When to Use Each and How to Type Them
Quick answer: straight quotes ' and " are the keyboard keys and belong in code, data and anywhere a computer reads the text. Curly ("smart") quotes ‘ ’ “ ” are for text people read. Most word processors curl quotes automatically; to type them yourself use Alt+0147 “, Alt+0148 ”, Alt+0145 ‘, Alt+0146 ’ on Windows, or Option+[ “ and Shift+Option+[ ” on a Mac.
Quick reference: every method
Every Alt code below is verified against the real Windows code pages — where none exists we say so, rather than list one that won’t work.
| Char | Name | Windows | Mac | HTML | Word (Alt+X) | Unicode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| “ | Left Double Quotation Mark | Alt+0147 |
Option+[ |
“ |
201C + Alt+X |
U+201C |
| ” | Right Double Quotation Mark | Alt+0148 |
Shift+Option+[ |
” |
201D + Alt+X |
U+201D |
| ‘ | Left Single Quotation Mark | Alt+0145 |
Option+] |
‘ |
2018 + Alt+X |
U+2018 |
| ’ | Right Single Quotation Mark | Alt+0146 |
Shift+Option+] |
’ |
2019 + Alt+X |
U+2019 |
Which to use where
| Context | Use |
|---|---|
| Articles, books, e-mails, slides | Curly quotes “ ” and apostrophe ’ |
| Code, HTML attributes, JSON, CSV, terminal commands | Straight quotes " and ' |
| Feet and inches (5′ 9″) | Neither: primes ′ ″ (see prime symbols) |
| Spreadsheet formulas | Straight quotes |
Typing curly quotes
- Windows: the Alt codes in the table above (numeric keypad, Num Lock on).
- Mac: “ Option+[, ” Shift+Option+[, ‘ Option+], ’ Shift+Option+].
- Phones: touch and hold the quote key to choose the curly forms.
- HTML:
““,””,‘‘,’’.
Turning smart quotes on or off
- Word (Windows): File → Options → Proofing → AutoCorrect Options → AutoFormat As You Type → "Straight quotes" with “smart quotes”. Press Ctrl+Z right after Word curls a quote to keep it straight just that once.
- Google Docs: Tools → Preferences → "Use smart quotes".
- Mac: System Settings → Keyboard → Text Input → Edit → "Use smart quotes and dashes". Individual apps can also switch it in Edit → Substitutions.
- iPhone / iPad: Settings → General → Keyboard → Smart Punctuation.
Common mistakes
- Backwards apostrophe: in ’90s or ’til, the apostrophe at the start of a word should be ’, but auto-correct often puts ‘. Type it with Alt+0146 or Shift+Option+].
- Curly quotes in code: a “ pasted into a program causes a syntax error. Copy code from plain-text sources.
- Measurements: 6’ 2” uses quotes where primes belong.
Other languages use other marks, such as „German“ and «French» quotes; see German and French.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Alt codes for curly quotes?
Alt+0147 for “, Alt+0148 for ”, Alt+0145 for ‘ and Alt+0146 for ’, typed on the numeric keypad.
How do I stop Word from making curly quotes?
Go to File, Options, Proofing, AutoCorrect Options, AutoFormat As You Type, and clear the "Straight quotes with smart quotes" box. To undo just one change, press Ctrl + Z right after Word curls the quote.
Why does my code break when I paste it from a document?
Word processors turn straight quotes into curly ones, and programming languages only accept straight quotes. Paste code into a plain-text editor or turn off smart quotes before writing code in a document.
Which apostrophe should I use?
In prose, the right single curly quote ’ is the typographically correct apostrophe (don’t). In code, URLs and data, use the straight apostrophe '.
Looking for something else? Browse 1,000+ copy-paste symbols, the full Alt Codes finder, or the emoji picker.