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N
NJ Author
Inspiring
December 8, 2018
Answered

Using typographer's quotes and straight quotes in the same block of text

  • December 8, 2018
  • 3 replies
  • 18467 views

I would like to be able to use both straight and "curly" quotes within the same sentence or paragraph without having to go into the app preferences change it, type the text, go in and change it again, etc.

Typical example of a sentence I would need to do this for:

The IRT's platforms are 510' long, and each car is 51'5".

Can I create a character style that forces straight quotes when the default setting is typographer's quotes? I would say I need straight quotes maybe 5% of the time (if that), but when I need them, creating them is a royal pain. Even copying-pasting doesn't work as the pasted versions are curly.

Thanks in advance.

Correct answer Barb Binder

Letting us know the version is important.

Those are the shortcuts for current versions:

but they are not listed for CS6. You can use the Type menu in CS6 or define the shortcuts via Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts.

~Barb

3 replies

Mike Witherell
Community Expert
Mike WitherellCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 29, 2025

The following is true when you are keyboarding your text in InDesign in English on a typical keyboard on a North American computer with a typical qwerty keyboard:

 

Generally, in InDesign > Preferences > Type > Type Options > Use Typographer's Quotes is ON.

This causes placed text to convert all single and double quote marks into typographer's curly quote marks. It also means that if you type the keystroke from the keyboard you also get curly smart typographer's quote marks.

 

But if you are actively keyboarding text (or you have selected text and wish to replace it) then all you have to do is hold the Opt/Alt key while typing the so-called quote mark key (actually called the ditto key) and it will produce a dumb straight ditto mark (aka feet and inches mark).

 

Interestingly, the opposite is not true. If in Preferences you have Use Typographer's Quotes turned OFF, then holding the Opt/Alt key does not do the opposite. It does not produce curly smart typographer's quote marks.

 

With respect to denoting feet and inches, some use ditto marks; some use prime characters. Primes are present in some typeface fonts but missing in others.

Mike Witherell
    tonks_the_auror
    Community Expert
    tonks_the_aurorCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 31, 2025

    There is a free script by Dan Rodney: 

    https://www.danrodney.com/scripts/quotestofootinchmarks.html

    Select the text that has the quotes you want to change and run the script. 

    Works like a charm.

      N
      NJ AuthorAuthor
      Inspiring
      December 8, 2018

      Unfortunately this does not seem to work for me (holding down the control key and the left square-bracket simultaneously, or control and right square-bracket, or control, shift, etc). None of those combinations work using ID CS6 on a PC running Windows 10.

      Barb Binder
      Community Expert
      Barb BinderCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      December 8, 2018

      Letting us know the version is important.

      Those are the shortcuts for current versions:

      but they are not listed for CS6. You can use the Type menu in CS6 or define the shortcuts via Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts.

      ~Barb

      ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
      N
      NJ AuthorAuthor
      Inspiring
      December 8, 2018

      Well that's even easier, and it works like a charm. Thanks, Barb!

        P
        Community Expert
        Peter KahrelCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        December 8, 2018

        Set your preferences to default to curly quotes. When you need a straight quote, press Ctrl+[ and Ctrl+] for straight single quotes and Shift+Ctrl+[ and Shift+Ctrl+] for straight double quotes (or the Mac equivalents of those keys). You can review/change these keys in the keyboard shortcut editor.

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