Smart quote converter
Switch pasted text between straight ASCII and typographic quotation marks.
How to use the Smart quote converter
What does the Smart quote converter do?
Convert curly quotation marks and apostrophes to straight ASCII, or turn straight quotes into typographic smart quotes in browser; It applies this page-specific rule: straight mode maps common opening, closing, low and reversed curly variants to the ordinary ASCII double or single quote.
Which inputs does this converter use?
To convert curly quotation marks and apostrophes to straight ascii, or turn straight quotes into typographic smart quotes in browser, enter Input text, Conversion, Output; keep every value in the same example; where available, choose between Curly quotes → straight quotes, Straight quotes → smart quotes to match the required format; select Process text when the values are ready; Start with a familiar case covered by this rule - Smart mode uses surrounding whitespace and punctuation to choose opening marks, and treats a single quote between letters as an apostrophe - so the expected result can confirm the settings.
How should the converter result be read?
For a result intended to convert curly quotation marks and apostrophes to straight ascii, or turn straight quotes into typographic smart quotes in browser, smart mode uses surrounding whitespace and punctuation to choose opening marks, and treats a single quote between letters as an apostrophe; read output together with the original input text rather than as an isolated answer, and confirm that its units or structure match the intended use.
Can curly quotes be converted back to ASCII?
When the goal is to convert curly quotation marks and apostrophes to straight ascii, or turn straight quotes into typographic smart quotes in browser, yes.
How are apostrophes handled in smart mode?
When using the page to convert curly quotation marks and apostrophes to straight ascii, or turn straight quotes into typographic smart quotes in browser, a straight single quote between letters becomes a closing curly apostrophe, as in don’t.
Limits and accuracy
When using this converter to convert curly quotation marks and apostrophes to straight ascii, or turn straight quotes into typographic smart quotes in browser, automatic quote direction is a practical heuristic rather than a grammar engine; check the result in its intended destination before relying on it for important work; keep input text until the output has been checked in its intended destination.
How smart quote converter works
Straight mode maps common opening, closing, low and reversed curly variants to the ordinary ASCII double or single quote. This is predictable for code, CSV and systems with limited character support.
Smart mode uses surrounding whitespace and punctuation to choose opening marks, and treats a single quote between letters as an apostrophe. Remaining quote marks become closing marks.
Automatic quote direction is a practical heuristic rather than a grammar engine. Nested quotations, measurements and unusual punctuation may need a final manual correction.
Frequently asked questions
Can curly quotes be converted back to ASCII?
Yes. Straight mode maps the common Unicode single and double quote variants to apostrophe and quotation-mark characters.
How are apostrophes handled in smart mode?
A straight single quote between letters becomes a closing curly apostrophe, as in don’t.
Will this understand every nested quotation?
No. It uses local character context, so complex editorial styles should be proofread afterward.