Curly single quotes

Also called smart quotes or typographer's quotes.

How to type it

Mac: Option + ] and Shift + Option + ]. Windows: Alt + 0145 and Alt + 0146 on the number pad.

Common uses

• Curly single quotes mark a quotation inside a quotation in American writing.
• The closing mark ’ is also the correct apostrophe, as in it’s and don’t.

Less common uses

• An apostrophe at the start of a word, as in ’til or ’90s, takes the closing form ’ even though it looks backward.
• British writing often puts single quotes on the outside and double quotes on the inside, the reverse of American style.