Fix Smart Quotation Marks Printing Incorrectly in Microsoft Word
Question details
Users need to resolve an issue where quotation marks do not print correctly, specifically when closing quotation marks appear at the bottom of the text line instead of the top.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Printing a document containing smart (curly) quotation marks to a physical printer.
- Observed behavior
- Closing quotation marks print at the bottom of the line (resembling commas) despite appearing correctly at the top of the line on the computer screen.
Verify if your document contains mixed languages, as some European languages naturally format initial or closing quotation marks at the bottom of the text line.
Verify Proofing Language and AutoFormat Settings
Ensure the correct language is applied to your text, as incorrect regional settings are the most common cause for lower-positioned quotation marks.
Microsoft Word automatically adjusts punctuation based on the proofing language. If a section of text is accidentally set to German or Dutch, Word may force quotation marks to the bottom of the line.
Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select the entire document, or manually highlight the specific paragraphs with the quotation mark issue.
Navigate to the 'Review' tab on the ribbon, click on 'Language', and select 'Set Proofing Language'. Ensure that 'English' (or your desired language) is selected and click OK.
Go to File > Options > Proofing. Click on the 'AutoCorrect Options' button. Switch to the 'AutoFormat As You Type' tab and ensure the box for 'Straight quotes with smart quotes' is checked.
Save as PDF to Bypass Printer Driver Issues
Converting your document to a PDF locks the visual formatting in place, preventing the printer driver from misinterpreting characters during the print spooling process.
Test for Document Corruption and Update Drivers
Determine if the issue is isolated to a single corrupted document or if your printer's software needs an update to process advanced font characters correctly.
Try WPS Office for Flawless Document Printing
If Microsoft Word continues to struggle with formatting errors and printing glitches, switch to WPS Office. It provides an accurate WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) printing engine, ensuring that punctuation and layouts print exactly as they appear on your screen.
- 1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and complete the quick installation.
- 2. Open your Word file: Launch WPS Writer and seamlessly open your existing .docx document.
- 3. Print accurately: Click Print to output your document flawlessly without any quotation mark positioning errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my quotation marks look like commas at the bottom of the word?
This usually happens because the proofing language for that specific text block is set to a language like German or Dutch. These languages use lower quotation marks as a grammatical standard, and Word automatically adjusts the punctuation to match.
Can the font type cause smart quotation marks to print incorrectly?
Yes. If your selected font is corrupted or lacks properly mapped smart quote characters, the printer might substitute them incorrectly. Try highlighting the text and changing the font to a standard option like Arial or Times New Roman to see if it prints properly.
What is the difference between straight and smart quotation marks?
Straight quotation marks are simple, unstyled vertical lines (" "), often used in coding or plain text. Smart quotes are typographically curved or curly (“ ”) and are designed to lean toward the text they enclose for a more professional, published look.
