Smart quotes - how to fix incorrect closing quotes?

Question

Smart quotes - how to fix incorrect closing quotes?

I write in one program (iaWriter) and then cut and paste into Pages for finalization.

I want to have smart quotes, but can't figure out how to get the correct closing quotes when I do a Find and Replace. The problem seems to be that the non-smart " is the same for both opening and closing quotes.

So, a word like imported as "Pages" ends up as “Pages“ (i.e. theclose quote is identical to the opening quote).

Is there any way around this?

Right now, in means I need to go through the entire document and change each closing quote. And as I'm working with 100,000 word documents, it's really annoying.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

iMac G5 20

Posted on Dec 16, 2016 10:43 AM

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Answer 1

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,554 points

Dec 16, 2016 12:28 PM in response to Jerry Holtaway

The smart quote replacement sequences are:

Left, single-quote: option+}
Right, single-quote: shift+option+}
Left, double-quote: option+{
Right, double-quote: shift+option+{

Since you only have regular straight quotes now, you will have to perform four find activities with the appropriate replacement sequence from above:

Left, single-quote: space'
Right, single-quote: 'space
Left, double-quote: space"
Right, double-quote: "space

I suggest that you pick a single document that is ripe with these straight quotes. In the Finder, press the option key and drag the icon away from the original document to duplicate it. Perform the above Find/Replace on this duplicate, and see if there are any issues.

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Answer 2

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,554 points

Dec 16, 2016 1:10 PM in response to VikingOSX

The above find and replace approach will not work with Pages v5 or v6, as it wants to change every quote to the same replacement quote because it cannot distinguish a difference.

If you had copy/pasted into a Pages '09 document, then you could enable smart quotes in its Preferences, and then simply provide the same straight, double, or single quote character for each of find and replace. A replace all transforms the straight quotes to their smart left and right counterparts in one go. This approach will not work in Pages v5, or v6. Exporting content containing straight quotes to Pages '09 format, and then opening in Pages '09 (even with smart quotes enabled) will not automatically convert to smart quotes.

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Answer 3

Dec 17, 2016 2:01 AM in response to VikingOSX

Yes, unfortunately I am using Pages V6.

This is a very annoying aspect of the software - how could an earlier version do it correctly but the current doesn't?

Anyway, thanks for your prompt response.

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Answer 4

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,554 points

Dec 17, 2016 7:50 AM in response to Jerry Holtaway

All Pages releases (e.g. v5, v6) after Pages '09 v4.3 were not based on it, and became entirely different applications that omitted over 100 features. That slick find/replace of straight quotes conversion to smart quotes was one of the casualties.

I am looking at alternatives, and will post back if something can be done with words surrounded by straight quotes.

I believe iaWriter allows you to insert the bulleted smart quote keystrokes (from my previous post) while you type in it on a Mac. That might save you time in the future, though copy/paste may thwart this too.

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Answer 5

Dec 17, 2016 7:21 AM in response to VikingOSX

I appreciate that you are looking deeper into this.

I just realized that iaWriter now does support smart quotes. They can now be enabled from Setting and appear on the fly. On the Mac, cutting and pasting preserves the smart quotes. On the iPhone, exporting to a Word file and opening that in Pages works fine as well.

I've useiaWrite for years, and somehow missed this update (I wish I had noticed it before I wrote a 100,000+ page novel this summer!

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Answer 6

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,554 points

Dec 17, 2016 11:27 PM in response to Jerry Holtaway

The Smart Quotes service item in the free WordService product from the Mac App Store, will convert all of your selected content containing straight quotes in one go — like magic. Sorry that I forgot about this tool.

When you download WordService, it will automatically install 34 service items, but enable none of them. You must go into System Preferences : Keyboard panel : Shortcuts : Services — locate WordService: Smart Quotes, and enable it. Then it is available to you in Pages either by the Pages : Services menu : WordService: Smart Quotes entry, or with its keyboard shortcut, ⌘". Again, because it is a Service, it requires selected content beforehand.

A WordService application icon will also appear in Launchpad. It's only purpose, through its Help button, is to display PDF documentation of the various services in Preview for you.

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Answer 7

Dec 17, 2016 11:27 PM in response to VikingOSX

This is a brilliant solution! Thanks so much for sending along.

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