As a writer, designer, or editor, you must have come across typesetting issues when working with quotation marks or apostrophes. The straight quotes and primes you use in simple text editors just don’t cut it when you’re aiming for polished typography. The curly or curved quotes and apostrophes, also known as smart quotes, are the typographic solutions for that. In this article, we’ll explore how to type curly quotes and apostrophes for flawless typography in your text.

1. Keyboard Shortcuts

The easiest way to type curly quotes and apostrophes is by using keyboard shortcuts. Most text editors and desktop publishing software have these shortcuts pre-programmed into them. Here are some of the keyboard shortcuts to type curly quotes and apostrophes in popular text editors:

– Microsoft Word: for opening curly quotes [Ctrl+Alt+Shift+'(apostrophe)] and closing curly quotes [Ctrl+Alt+'(apostrophe)]. The same applies to opening and closing curly apostrophes, but you type [Ctrl+Alt+’](apostrophe) instead.

– Google Docs: for opening curly quotes [Ctrl+Alt+’](apostrophe) and closing curly quotes [Ctrl+Alt+Shift+'(apostrophe)]. As for the apostrophes, you type [Ctrl+’](apostrophe) for a curly one.

– Adobe InDesign: for opening and closing curly quotes [Alt+](apostrophe) and [Alt+](double quote), respectively. If you want to type a curly apostrophe, you press [Shift+Alt+’](apostrophe).

2. AutoFormat Features

Most word processors have an AutoFormat feature that can automatically replace straight quotes and apostrophes with curly ones. This feature is usually disabled by default, and you can activate it in the software’s settings. Once you’ve turned it on, the software will automatically typeset the straight quotes and apostrophes with their respective curly ones as you type.

In Microsoft Word, for instance, the AutoFormat feature is found in the Proofing options under the AutoCorrect Options. In Google Docs, it’s under the Preferences menu. Alternatively, you can also use plugins or add-ons for your text editors that can automatically replace straight quotes and apostrophes with their curved counterparts as you type.

3. Unicode Character Code

If you can’t access the keyboard shortcuts or the AutoFormat feature, you can use Unicode character codes to type curly quotes and apostrophes. Unicode is a standard that assigns a unique code number to every character, including typographical symbols such as quotes and apostrophes.

To type a curly quote using Unicode, you first press and hold the “Alt” key on your keyboard, then type the corresponding code number on the numeric keypad. For example, for an opening curly quote (‘), you type “Alt+0145”, and for the closing curly quote(’), you type “Alt+0146”. The same applies to curly apostrophes; for an opening curly one (‘), you type “Alt+0145”, and for the closing curly one (’), you type “Alt+0146”.

Conclusion

Curly quotes and apostrophes enhance the typeface and give your text a professional and polished look. You can use keyboard shortcuts, AutoFormat features, or Unicode character codes to type curly quotes and apostrophes easily. With these simple methods, you can take your typography to the next level and improve the overall quality of your document.