Smart Punctuation automatically turns straight quotes (“) into curly “smart” quotes and double hyphens (–) into dashes as you type on iPhone. It looks nice in messages, but it can break passwords, code, command lines, and some apps that expect plain characters. This guide shows how to turn Smart Punctuation off, when you might want it on, and quick ways to type straight quotes without changing the setting. The steps apply to current iOS and older models like the iPhone 7.
Quick Answer
Open Settings > General > Keyboard and turn off Smart Punctuation.
Turn Off Smart Punctuation
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap Keyboard.
- Switch Smart Punctuation off.
The change applies to all apps and keyboards immediately.
What Smart Punctuation Changes
| You type | With Smart Punctuation on |
|---|---|
| “quote” | “quote” |
| it’s | it’s |
| — | — (em dash) or – (en dash) |
When to Turn It Off
- Passwords and login fields that contain quotes or apostrophes.
- Code, terminal and shell commands in apps like SSH clients, where curly quotes cause errors.
- Spreadsheet formulas in some apps that require straight quotes.
- Search queries and web forms that treat curly quotes differently.
If you mostly write messages and emails, you may prefer to leave it on for nicer typography.
Type a Straight Quote Without Changing the Setting
- Touch and hold the quote or apostrophe key on the number keyboard (123) and slide to the straight version in the pop-up.
- Use Text Replacement (Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement) to create shortcuts for strings you type often.
Related Keyboard Settings
- Auto-Correction: changes misspelled words.
- Auto-Capitalization: capitalizes the first word of sentences.
- “.” Shortcut: double-tapping the space bar types a period and space.
- Predictive Text: suggests words above the keyboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this affect third-party keyboards?
Third-party keyboards like Gboard or SwiftKey may have their own punctuation settings.
Why do my passwords fail with quotes?
Curly quotes are different characters from straight ones. Turning off Smart Punctuation fixes it.
Is there a Smart Punctuation setting on Mac?
Yes. On Mac, go to System Settings > Keyboard > Text Input > Edit and turn off Use smart quotes and dashes.
Summary
- Settings > General > Keyboard.
- Turn off Smart Punctuation.
- Or touch and hold the quote key for a straight quote.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.