Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix the Quotation Key Typing Double Arrows in Word

Huda Qurayshi Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to restore standard quotation marks when the quotation key is pressed, rather than outputting double arrows.

How to Fix the Quotation Key Typing Double Arrows in Word

Product: Word
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Typing text and attempting to insert quotation marks into a document.
Observed behavior: Pressing the quotation key produces double arrows (« ») instead of standard straight or smart quotation marks.

Before you start

Before troubleshooting, test typing quotation marks in a web browser or Notepad to determine if the issue is a system-wide keyboard layout change or isolated to your word processor's settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Set English as the Preferred Document Language

Correcting the active document language prevents the auto-formatter from substituting French guillemets for standard English quotation marks.

Select All Text

Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select the entire contents of your document.

Open Language Settings

Navigate to the 'Review' tab on the top ribbon, click on 'Language', and select 'Set Proofing Language'.

Choose English

Scroll through the language list, select 'English (United States)' or your preferred English dialect, and click 'OK'.

Set English as the Preferred Document Language

Existing Quotation Marks: Changing the language will not retroactively fix the double arrows you have already typed. You must manually replace them or use the Find and Replace (Ctrl + H) feature to swap them out.

Solution 2

Verify and Change Windows Keyboard Layout

Windows may have automatically switched your system keyboard layout to French or another language, causing keys to output different characters.

Solution 3

Reset Normal Template and Disable Add-ins

If language and layout settings do not resolve the issue, a corrupted template or a conflicting COM add-in might be the root cause.

Seamless Word Processing

Easily Format Text and Manage Language in WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers an intuitive interface to manage your document's language and proofing settings, ensuring your quotation marks and other punctuations format correctly without hassle.

1. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your document in the WPS Writer application.
2. Access the Review Tab: Click on the 'Review' tab located at the top of the workspace.
3. Set Spell Check Language: Click the 'Spell Check' drop-down menu and select 'Set Language'.
4. Apply English Default: Choose 'English' from the dialog box and click 'Set as Default' to ensure standard quotation marks are used for all future typing.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the double arrows (« ») actually called?

These double arrow characters are called 'guillemets'. They are the standard quotation marks used in French, Spanish, Russian, and several other European languages.

Why did my keyboard language change on its own?

Windows has default keyboard shortcuts (Alt + Shift or Windows Key + Spacebar) that cycle through installed languages. It is common to accidentally press these key combinations while typing rapidly, which instantly changes your keyboard layout without warning.

How do I quickly replace all existing double arrows in my document?

Press Ctrl + H to open the Find and Replace dialog. Type the double arrow character («) in the 'Find what' field, type a standard quotation mark (") in the 'Replace with' field, and click 'Replace All'. Repeat this process for the closing arrow (»).

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