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How to Turn Off Smart Quotes in Word Comments
Question details
The user wants to disable typographical (smart) quotes in Microsoft Word so that comments display straight quotation marks instead.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Typing text and comments in a Word document and wanting the software to use standard straight quotes instead of automatically formatting them as curved smart quotes.
- Observed behavior
- Even after turning off smart quotes in the AutoCorrect settings, Microsoft Word continues to use typographical quotation marks within modern comments.
Verify whether your version of Microsoft Word is using the newer 'modern comments' feature, as this can affect how AutoFormat settings are applied to your text.
Disable Smart Quotes in Word AutoCorrect Options
Use the built-in Word Options to turn off the automatic replacement of straight quotes with smart quotes across your document.
You can turn off typographical quotes by adjusting your Proofing settings. Keep in mind that due to a known limitation in Word, these settings might not successfully apply if you are using modern comments.
Launch Microsoft Word, click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner, and select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.
In the Word Options dialog box, select 'Proofing' from the left sidebar, then click on the 'AutoCorrect Options' button.
Go to the 'AutoFormat As You Type' tab and uncheck the box for 'Straight quotes with smart quotes'.
Switch over to the 'AutoFormat' tab and also clear the checkbox for 'Straight quotes with smart quotes'.
Click 'OK' to save your new AutoCorrect settings and close the dialog boxes.
Switch to WPS Office for Consistent Document Formatting
If Microsoft Word's modern comments are ignoring your formatting preferences, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative where your formatting settings apply consistently across the entire document.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free WPS Office suite.
- 2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word document to continue editing without compatibility issues.
- 3. Manage Settings Confidently: Easily configure your AutoCorrect options and trust that they will apply consistently, even within document comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Word comments still use smart quotes after disabling them?
Microsoft Word's 'modern comments' feature has a known limitation where it bypasses the AutoCorrect settings for smart quotes. Even if disabled in the global proofing options, modern comments may still enforce typographical quotation marks.
Can I turn off modern comments in Word to fix this issue?
Depending on your specific version of Microsoft Word, you may be able to disable modern comments. Go to File > Options > General, uncheck 'Enable modern comments,' and then restart Word to revert to classic comments.
Do straight quotes look different from smart quotes?
Yes, straight quotes are purely vertical and uniform ("), while smart or typographical quotes are curved, angled, or curled to point towards the text they enclose (“ ”).
How do I report the modern comments smart quotes issue to Microsoft?
You can report this bug directly to the Microsoft development team by opening Word and navigating to Help > Feedback. Describe the issue where modern comments ignore your AutoFormat As You Type settings.
