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

[NJ Author]

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.

[Peter Kahrel]

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.

[NJ Author]

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 · Accepted solution]

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

[NJ Author]

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

[Peter Kahrel]

Mixed up my straight and curlies there!

[KansasSteve]

I tried using your keyboard combination, but no luck. Just an FYI. But since Illustrator and so easy to manually add this "special character" of the elusive single or double uncharactertistic vertical line known as the "foot mark" and "inch mark".

[KansasSteve]

Oops. Now we're back to the drawing board and no straight quotes (single or double), and running latest version 27.1.1.

[Barb Binder]

Hi @KansasSteve:

This is the InDesign forum. This 2018 was addressing quotes in InDesign, not Illustrator. 

~Barb

[KansasSteve]

Goodness. I'm so sorry. I was in the Illustrator forum, and searched and searched within it. Finally found "inch and marks", but didn't realize I was in a different forum at that point. 

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Insert the specific character using alt codes, or a macro/key programmed to enter them if you have the capability and the often-enough need.

I keep a chart of Alt Code characters handy, and it's often much faster than burrowing down three or four levels of a never-quite-remembered Insert menu. 🙂

Under Windows, Alt-34 inserts a straight double quote — " — and Alt-39 inserts a straight single quote/apostrophe — ' . Not sure of Mac equivalents.

ETA after Barb's correction: "...in pretty much all apps."