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Quotation Marks Symbol (“)
Quotation marks (“ ”) wrap speech and quotations — the curly pair on this page is the book-style set.
Quotation Marks codes
| Code | Value |
|---|---|
| Unicode code point | U+201C |
| Unicode name | Left Double Quotation Mark |
| HTML named entity | “ |
| HTML decimal | “ |
| HTML hex | “ |
| CSS content code | \201C |
| JavaScript / JSON | \u201C |
| Windows Alt code | No standard Alt code — copy it from the card above |
Quotation Marks variants (7)
7 related glyphs — click any tile to copy it. Tiles with a page open that symbol's own page.
Meaning & usage
Quotation marks come in threes: straight "typewriter" quotes, the curly pair “ ” used by publishers, and the angle quotes « » used in French, Spanish and many other languages. The curly opening mark “ (this page's character) starts a quotation in English books; its partner ” closes it. Copying the proper pair instantly upgrades essays, articles and posts that would otherwise carry keyboard-straight quotes.
Examples in use
- She said, “We'll be there by six.”
- The report calls it “a turning point”
- French style: «bonjour»
How to type the quotation marks
Windows
There is no Alt code or direct key for “. In Microsoft Word, type 201C and press Alt+X to convert it. Everywhere else, click the Copy button at the top of this page and paste it (Ctrl+V) — that always works.
Mac
There is no Option-key shortcut for “ on a Mac. Open the Character Viewer with Control+Command+Space, search for "Quotation Marks", and double-click to insert — or copy it from this page.
iPhone & Android
Most phone keyboards have no built-in key for “. Open this page on your phone, tap Copy, then paste it into your message or bio. (On Android, Gboard's emoji search finds some symbols by name.)
Linux
Press Ctrl+Shift+U, type 201c and press Enter (works in most GTK apps and terminals with IBus). Or copy it from this page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I type curly quotes?
Word processors and phones usually convert straight quotes automatically (smart quotes). To be sure, copy “ and ” from this page's variants and paste them around your text.
What is the difference between “ ” and " "?
They mean the same thing. Curly quotes are the typographer's choice for finished text; straight quotes are what keyboards type and what code requires.
Why does “ sometimes show as a box or question mark?
The box (called tofu) means the device or font viewing it has no drawing for U+201C (Left Double Quotation Mark). The character itself is fine — try a different font or a newer device, or use one of the variants on this page.
Is the Quotation Marks free to use?
Yes. “ is a standard Unicode text character published in the Unicode Character Database. You may use it in personal and commercial documents, designs and products without permission or payment.
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Data: Unicode Character Database · Page updated 2026-11-13