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tturiano
Inspiring
September 4, 2021
Answered

Single and double quotes are appearing straight, not curly, despite settings.

  • September 4, 2021
  • 5 replies
  • 3382 views

Hello, I am editing a prose InDesign document. All existing instances of single and double quotes are typographers quotes (curly quotes). However, when I type and add new single and double quotes, they appear straight. In Preferences, I have type set to Typographer's quotes, and I have Dictionary quotes set to curly quotes. I know that I can use keyboard shortcuts to type curly quotes (Shift and Option with bracket key), and that works, but what a pain. There are a few instances where I need straight quotes, like in expressing geographic coordinates minutes and seconds, but 99.9% of the time, I need curly quotes. I have the latest versions of Mac and Indesign. Any help would be much appreciated on how to fix this problem.

Correct answer Barb Binder

Hi @tturiano:

 

My guess is that the command is unchecked for that one file. Do curly quotes work correctly in the other files?

 

If it's just the one file, open the file, then open Prefs and make sure it is enabled. If all files, and if the command is enabled with all files closed, consider rebuilding cache/preferences. 

https://www.rockymountaintraining.com/adobe-indesign-rebuilding-preferences-cache/

 

~Barb 

5 replies

L
Community Expert
LaubenderCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 6, 2021

"However, when I type and add new single and double quotes, they appear straight"

 

Hi tturiano,

how is your text formatted with property language?

Is it perhaps set to [No Language]? Then you always type straight quotes by default.

 

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

    T
    tomasb65231039
    Participant
    June 26, 2025

    You are my hero! 😄

    Barb Binder
    Community Expert
    Barb BinderCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    September 5, 2021

    Hi @tturiano:

     

    My guess is that the command is unchecked for that one file. Do curly quotes work correctly in the other files?

     

    If it's just the one file, open the file, then open Prefs and make sure it is enabled. If all files, and if the command is enabled with all files closed, consider rebuilding cache/preferences. 

    https://www.rockymountaintraining.com/adobe-indesign-rebuilding-preferences-cache/

     

    ~Barb 

    ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
      T
      tturianoAuthor
      Inspiring
      September 16, 2021

      Barb, you were right. Prior to posting, I had kept checking the Preferences>Type>Use Typographers Quotes box, but I wasn't doing it at the right time relative to typing and testing it...and I was doing it on some files and not on others...and getting confusing feedback...but right after you sent this message to me, I tried it again, and it started working.

        Barb Binder
        Community Expert
        Barb BinderCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        September 4, 2021
        quote

        Is there a way in that panel to edit which glyph appears when I type the apostrophe and quotes key?


        By @tturiano

         

        Enable Use Typographers Quotes in Prefs > Type to get them while typing.

         

         

         

        ~Barb 

        ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
          T
          tturianoAuthor
          Inspiring
          September 4, 2021

          Thanks Barb. I already tried that. Even with that setting, the quotes and apostrophes still type straight, rather than curly. My question that you quoted refers to the Glyph panel, no the Preferences>Type panel. I was wondering if there is a way to edit the CID/GID number that is assigned to the keyboard keys for quotes and apostrophes to select the curly glyph, rather than the straight glyph.

          Geоrge
          Geоrge
          Legend
          September 4, 2021

          Are your text with applied paragraph style and with applied your language?

          Remember, never say you can't do something in InDesign, it's always just a question of finding the right workaround to get the job done. © David Blatner
            Derek Cross
            Community Expert
            Derek CrossCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            September 4, 2021

            Under the InDesign menu  Edit > Find/Change menu, from the Query drop-down, select Straight single (or double) typographers quotes, or change them in Glyphs.

            If you're Placing a Word file via the Microsoft Word Import Options dialogue box, you can select "Use Typographer's Quotes" as an option.

             

              T
              tturianoAuthor
              Inspiring
              September 4, 2021

              Thanks for the tip Derek. Your suggestion, using Find/Change, is a way to go back afterward and fix them all, correct? That is what I have been doing, but I would rather have them appear correctly as I type. I am not importing from Word. What about your Glyphs panel suggestion? Is there a way in that panel to edit which glyph appears when I type the apostrophe and quotes key? I will play around with that.

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