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.
Hi Martin,
Thanks for the link. Glad you found my post helpful.