Do you know the tiny quotation marks that we often use while preparing any document are of two different types? Yes, We have two different types of quotation marks, curly quotes and straight quotes. Each one of them adds their own visual appeal to the content. The way we use them in the document adds a visual appeal to it making it more presentable. MS Word is the most versatile and flexible word processing program. It allows its users to switch between straight and curly quotes easily.

How to switch between Straight & curly quotes in MS Word

What are Straight and Curly Quotes

Straight quotes were brought into the picture by typewriters to save space. This is because Straight quotes consume only two keys whereas the curly ones need four. On the other hand, Curly quotes give a more elegant appearance and add more readability to the content. Today straight quotes are used by programmers in their code, and by writers who indulge in technical writing, etc whereas curly quotes are mostly used by writers in literature while preparing reports, and other formal writings.

Straight and curly quotes

How to Set Your Quote Style Preference in MS Word

By default, MS Word adds curly quotes to the MS Word document. But it also provides the Auto format property which can be used to switch between straight quotes and curly quotes as the user types.

Step 1: Open Your MS Word Document

Open an existing document or create a new one by going to File > New.

Open the MS word document, or Create a new one by going to File>New

Step 2: Go to the File menu and select Options

Go to the “File” menu and select “Options” from the left navigation bar

Go to the File menu and select Options

Step 3: Click on Proofing and Select AutoCorrect Options

In the “Word Options” dialog box, select “Proofing” and click on the “AutoCorrect Options” button.

Click on Proofing and Select AutoCorrect Options

Step 4: Go to AutoFormat Tab and Uncheck the “Straight quotes with Smart quotes” Option

The auto-correct dialog box appears. Click on the ” Autoformat” tab as shown in the above image. Next, from the list of options available, uncheck the option “Straight quotes with Smart quotes”.

Autoformat Tab>>Uncheck the “Straight quotes with Smart quotes” Option

Step 5: Click on Apply Changes

Click on the “AutoFormat As You Type” tab. Uncheck “Straight Quotes With Smart Quotes”, If you want to use straight quotes, or check this to use curly quotes. Click “OK”.

Apply Changes

How to Convert Quote Styles in an Existing Word Document

Alternatively, we can also convert/replace curly quotes with straight quotes with the help of the Find and Replace option in Word as shown in the steps below.

Converting Curly Quotes to Straight Quotes

1. Open your MS Word document.

2. Open the “Find and Replace” dialog box by pressing ‘Ctrl+H‘.

3. In the “Find what” section, type the Unicode code for the curly quote you want to replace the former with. The table below gives the Unicode code for the different quotes.

Smart Quote Double, Closing	^0148
Smart Quote Double, Opening	^0147
Smart Single Quote, Opening	^0145
Smart Single Quote, Closing	^0146

4. The “Replace with” section, enter the Unicode code for the straight quotation mark:

Straight quote Double	^034
Straight quote Single	^039

Converting Straight Quotes to Curly Quotes

1. Open your MS Word document.

2. Next, Press Ctrl + H to open the “Find and Replace” dialog box.

4. The “Replace with” section, enter the Unicode code for the straight quotation mark:

Straight quote Double	^034
Straight quote Single	^039

3. In the “Find what” section, enter the Unicode code for the curly quote you want to replace the former with. The table below gives the Unicode code for the different quotes.

Smart Quote Double, Closing	^0148
Smart Quote Double, Opening	^0147
Smart Single Quote, Opening	^0145
Smart Single Quote, Closing	^0146

Find and replace dialog box

How to Type Accent Marks Over Letters in Microsoft Word

MS Word offers various shortcuts and options for typing accent marks.

Typing accent marks in Microsoft Word can be done in two different ways.

Using Keyboard Shortcuts

• We can get an acute accent mark by pressing Ctrl + ’ (apostrophe) followed by the specific alphabet (For example Ctrl + ’ + e = é).
• We can add a circumflex accent mark with the help of shortcut keys Ctrl + Shift + 6 (^) followed by letter. (For example: Ctrl + Shift + 6 + o = ô).
• For a tilde accent mark we use the keys Ctrl + Shift + ~ (tilde) followed by the specific alphabet (For example: Ctrl + Shift + ~ + n = ñ).

Using the Symbol Menu

• Go to the “Insert” tab.
• Click on “Symbol” and then “More Symbols.”
• Find the letter with the accent you need and click “Insert.”

Conclusion

Switching between straight and curly quotes in MS Word is easy and enhances the document’s visual appeal. By following the steps outlined above and using MS Word tips, switch quotes in MS Word, curly quotes vs straight quotes, AutoFormat MS Word, and Microsoft Word shortcuts, you can customize your documents to suit your needs. Understanding the use of both types of quotes helps in creating more readable and professional documents.

FAQs on MS Word Tips

What are straight and curly quotes?

Straight quotes are vertical punctuation marks (‘ or “) used to denote quotations or inches. Curly quotes, also known as smart quotes, are designed to curve towards the quoted text to enhance the readability of the text.

Is Straight quotes better than Curly quotes?

The choice between straight and curly quotes often depends on the content type and style. Curly quotes are commonly used in formal documents, reports, and publications, while straight quotes are common in technical or coding programs.

Why does MS Word automatically switch between straight quotes and curly quotes?

MS Word, by default changes straight quotes to curly quotes to improve the presentation and readability of the document. It adds a professional appeal to the content. However, this feature can be changed according to the user’s choice.