Excel: Smart Quotes Cannot Replace Straight Quotes

Last reviewed: November 1, 1994
Article ID: Q79588

SUMMARY

Certain programs replace the normal straight quotation marks with the curly quotation marks (smart quotes) often found in printed material. These characters cannot be used to replace straight quotation marks within Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh version 2.2 or 3.0 formulas. Writing a formula using curly quotation marks to designate a filename ('January Report'!$A$1) or to encapsulate text (="+ or -15%") produces the "Error in formula" message.

MORE INFORMATION

Curly quotation marks can be entered directly into cells as text (without an equal sign) or within text string formulas (="text") as long as the curly quotation marks are contained within standard straight quotation marks.

In most applications, smart quotes can be disabled through the Control Panel or Apple menu item. Some applications have a keyboard command which toggles between straight and curled quotation marks.

Additional reference words 2.20 3.00 3.0 2.2 SmartQuotes Quote Init curled

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Last reviewed: November 1, 1994
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