| Common Mistake |
Correct |
PC
Keystroke |
Mac
Keystroke |
HTML code |
Explanation |
foot mark
(or dumb apostrophe)
 |
smart apostrophe
 |
Alt 0146
(hold Alt while typing numbers on keypad, then release Alt)
|
Option-Shift-] |
’ |
Wherever you see a single quote or apostrophe, a curly or “smart” apostrophe should be used. Most of the world uses the footmark because that is what is on the keyboard. |
inch mark
(or dumb quote)
 |
smart quotation
 |
Alt 0147
(for left quote)
Alt 0148
(for right quote)
|
Option-[
(for left quote)
Option-Shift-[
(for right quote)
|
“
(left)
”
(right)
|
Quotation marks are usually replaced
by inch marks simply because the typist doesn’t know there is a difference.
There is! |
dash or hyphen
 |
endash
 |
Alt 0150
|
Option-Hyphen |
– |
The endash is used to signify a “through”
relationship, as in marking dates such as Monday through Friday, i.e.
Monday–Friday. |
two dashes
 |
emdash
 |
Alt 0151
|
Option-Shift-
Hyphen |
— |
The emdash is used instead of two
dashes where someone wants to indicate a pause, or to separate a clause
in a sentence—like this—from the rest of the sentence. It
is similar to a parenthetical phrases (such as this). |
