I do most of my note writing in Microsoft Word. It is just easy and convenient and a legacy thing. However one thing that bugs me is “smart quotes” where if you paste some code into Word it adds “smart quotes” where I would just want “dumb quotes” – say around an attribute in a HTML element. However, you can change the way pesky old Word does this. Assuming you are running Word 2007 then do the following:

  • From the Office button in the upper left hand corner of your screen select Word Options (Fig. 1).
  • Find the “proofing” selection (Fig. 2).
  • Locate Autocorrect Options. A new window will open up. You want “AutoFormat”. In the “replace” category  uncheck “straight quotes” with “smart quotes”. (Fig. 3)
  • Repeat unchecking “straight quotes” with “smart quotes” on the  AutoFormat As You Type tab.

Have you noticed that WordPress is putting smart quotes around all my quoted text.  Grrrrrr.  Download a plugin to fix it.

PS … in Microsoft Word 2003 you find a similiar set up through the Tools menu.

One Thought to “Replacing Smart Quotes with Dumb Quotes in Microsoft Word”

  1. Hi Martin,

    Thanks for the link. Glad you found my post helpful.

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