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JasonDD210
Known Participant
January 17, 2021
Answered

InDesign interprets backtick as apostrophe

  • January 17, 2021
  • 4 replies
  • 1618 views

I was writing some GREP styles for highlighting text in quotes in a different colour, and I noticed that InDesign sees the backtick (or grave accent, character code 96) as an apostrophe (character code 39).

I also checked this using the Find/Change function with an apostrophe and sure enough it was finding backticks as well as apostrophes in the search, both with text and GREP settings. I even tested different fonts.

What's really weird is that if you put in a backtick as the search term, it finds only backticks, not apostrophes.

I can't find out anything to explain this bizare behavior so was hoping someone could help.

Thanks.

 

 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer RaviKiran

If you want to just find the Straight apostrophe ' without finding the backtick `, then you can put ~' in the Find field.

If you want to find any apostrophe (either Straight or Curly) without finding the backtick, then you can put ~'|~[|~] in the Find field.

4 replies

S
SGGillis
Participant
May 19, 2022

Thank you RaviKiran!

Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com
Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com
Legend
February 9, 2021

Quote: << What's really weird is that if you put in a backtick as the search term, it finds only backticks, not apostrophes. >>

 

These are actually 2 different characters with 2 different character codepoints. Search terms are literal and specific, and generally won't find lookalike glyphs.

 

I noticed you refer to the glyphs with the ACSII character codes, 0039 (typographer's apostrophe) and 0096 (reverse single prime). The term "back tick" refers to a specific character used in computer programming, not as a formal glyph in typesetting and InDesign text: although they do look the same to the naked eye, they perform different functions and are interpreted by technologies in different ways.

 

If you're using OpenType fonts in InDesign, it's best to ditch the ASCII method of referencing glyphs because all OpenType fonts are based on Unicode character encoding (each glyph has a different codepoint number from ASCII's). Each glyph codepoint is interpreted by various technologies, such as HTML websites, EPUBs, accessible PDFs, search engines and content management systems. Their precise meaning is critical.

 

Unicode glyphs that look like a "back tick" include:

  • Straight apostrophe = Unicode 0027     '
  • Typographer's apostrophe = Unicode 2019     ’
  • Modifier letter vertical line = Unicode 02C8     ˈ
  • Prime = Unicode 2032     ′
  • Reverse Prime = Unicode 2035     ‵
  • Grave Accent = Unicode 0060     `

 

Learn more about Unicode at http://www.unicode.org

View the Unicode code charts at http://www.unicode.org/charts/

 

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    J
    JasonDD210Author
    Known Participant
    January 25, 2021

    Hello again. I'm still perplexed by this behaviour and wish I could find out more about it. Whether it is a bug or some hidden behaviour, or just something I'm missing. So basically, in Find/Change, with apostrophe 39 as the search term, it finds backticks code 96. Why?

    RaviKiran
    Adobe Employee
    RaviKiranCorrect answer
    Adobe Employee
    February 8, 2021

    If you want to just find the Straight apostrophe ' without finding the backtick `, then you can put ~' in the Find field.

    If you want to find any apostrophe (either Straight or Curly) without finding the backtick, then you can put ~'|~[|~] in the Find field.

      J
      JasonDD210Author
      Known Participant
      February 9, 2021

      Thanks. That worked. I placed the ~ on the the straight apostrophe and that stopped that style being applied to the backtick.

      G
      Germán5C59
      Participant
      January 17, 2021

      En Buscar/Cambiar, los puntos suspensivos separables se cambiaban por puntos suspensivos en bloque inseparable con ^e. Desde la última actualización de InDesign, los puntos suspensivos en bloque inseparable se identifican con ~e, pero resulta que el programa busca todos los conjuntos de tres matrices seguidas, no solo lo tres puntos suspensivos, por lo que no vale para realizar el cambio.

        kglad
        Community Expert
        kgladCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        January 17, 2021

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