ID: Q178423
The information in this article applies to:
In the versions of Microsoft Excel listed above, the AutoCorrect feature uses "smart" apostrophes when it corrects text. This may cause a problem if you expect the corrected text to contain standard apostrophes.
This problem occurs because the entries in the AutoCorrect list contain "smart" apostrophes, not standard apostrophes. The following entries are affected:
aren't it'll what's
can't it's where's
can't have been it's a who's
company's it's not who've
couldn't it's the won't
didn't let's wouldn't
doesn't she'll you'd
don't shouldn't you're
don't know that's you're a
hadn't they'll you're an
hasn't they're you're her
haven't they've you're here
he'll wasn't you're his
here's we'd you're my
I'm we'll you're the
I'd we're you're their
I'll we've you're your
isn't weren't you've
If, as a result of using the AutoCorrect feature, your worksheet contains a number of "smart" apostrophes, you can replace the "smart" apostrophes with standard apostrophes. To do this, use the appropriate method for your version of Excel.
1. On the Edit menu, click Replace.
2. Place the insertion point in the Find What box. Hold down the ALT
key while you type "0146" (without the quotation marks), using the
number keys on the numeric keypad. Release the ALT key. This enters a
"smart" apostrophe in the edit box.
4. Click Replace All.
All of the "smart" apostrophes in the worksheet are replaced by
standard apostrophes.
1. On the Edit menu, click Replace.
2. Place the insertion point in the Find What box. Press OPTION+SHIFT+]
(right square bracket). This enters a "smart" apostrophe in the edit
box.
4. Click Replace All.
All of the "smart" apostrophes in the worksheet are replaced by
standard apostrophes.
The AutoCorrect feature in Microsoft Excel is designed to help correct common typing mistakes. For example, if you accidentally type "hte" instead of "the," AutoCorrect automatically changes the incorrect text to "the". To view or make changes to the AutoCorrect list, click AutoCorrect on the Tools menu.
Because the AutoCorrect list is shared between multiple programs (Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, and so on), some of the entries in the list are designed to take advantage of features in the different programs, such as "smart" quotes and apostrophes.
As a result, the entries in the list that contain apostrophes use "smart" apostrophes, not standard apostrophes. In Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows, "smart" apostrophes have a code of 146.
There is a minor difference in appearance between "smart" and standard apostrophes, so you may not notice when this problem occurs. However, you can demonstrate the problem by performing the following steps:
1. In Microsoft Excel, create a new workbook.
2. In Sheet1, type the following:
A1: theyve B1: =CODE(MID(A1,5,1))
A2: they've B2: =CODE(MID(A2,5,1))
A3: =IF(A1=A2,TRUE,FALSE)
Do not type an apostrophe in cell A1; type a standard apostrophe in
cell A2.
Also note that the CODE formulas in cells B1 and B2 return different values since the code of a "smart" apostrophe is different than the code of a standard apostrophe.
Additional query words: XL97 smart
Keywords : xlformat
Version : WINDOWS:97; MACINTOSH:98
Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprbLast Reviewed: January 9, 1999