Copy the straight apostrophe ' or the curly ’ to paste, with letter forms, ready endings and look-alikes.
Apostrophe Copy and Paste
'ApostropheU+0027Ready to copy
22 apostrophes and look-alikes. Tap any value to copy it.
22 apostrophes and look-alikes. A character and its name both copy the character. A code copies the code.
Character
Name
Code point
Alt code
Option keys
HTML
LaTeX
U+0027. The straight apostrophe of the keyboard, also called the typewriter or ASCII apostrophe: the key to the right of the semicolon on the U.S. layout. Alt+39 types it, its number in ASCII. ' in HTML.
U+2019. The curly apostrophe of printed text. Its name is a quotation mark, yet Unicode notes it as the preferred character for the apostrophe. Alt+0146, Option+Shift+] on the U.S. layout, ’ in HTML, \textquoteright in LaTeX.
U+02BC. The apostrophe as a letter, for alphabets where the mark stands for a sound such as the glottal stop. No Alt code table holds it.
The curly mark and s, the ending of a possessive: the eagle’s feathers.
The mark in the place of the dropped o of not: don’t.
U+2032. Unicode also names it minutes, feet: the mark for those units, in whose place an apostrophe is often typed. ′ in HTML, \prime in LaTeX.
U+2018. The curl turned the other way, which opens a quotation. Alt+0145, Option+] on the U.S. layout, ‘ in HTML, \textquoteleft in LaTeX.
U+FF07. The straight mark at the width of a Chinese or Japanese character.
After the s, for owners in the plural: the twins’ coats.
A contraction of have, as in we’ve.
A shortened word, the mark standing in for ernmen: government.
U+055A. The apostrophe of the Armenian block; its first Unicode name was Armenian modifier letter right half ring.
U+0149. An apostrophe and n in one character, made for Afrikaans. Unicode marks it deprecated and strongly discourages its use. ʼn in HTML.
U+02EE. Two marks in a single letter, which Unicode notes for Nenets.
U+07F4. One of two apostrophes in the NKo block, this one named for the high tone; in the standard since version 5.0 (2006).
U+07F5. Its low-tone partner in the same block.
U+02BB. Curls the opposite way to an apostrophe and belongs to the alphabet of Hawaiian, where it is called the ʻokina.
U+02BD. A mirrored mark that Unicode notes for weak aspiration.
U+00B4. The accent of é standing alone. Alt+0180, Option+Shift+E on the U.S. layout, ´ in HTML, \textasciiacute in LaTeX.
U+00E9. The letter people mean by an apostrophe over e: the mark on top is an acute accent. Alt+130, Alt+0233, é in HTML.
U+0060. Called backtick or backquote; program text sometimes sets it against the straight apostrophe as a pair of quotes. ` in HTML.
U+05F3. The Hebrew mark for abbreviations, often typed as an apostrophe.
The apostrophe is ' on the keyboard, U+0027, and ’ in print, U+2019, the curly form that Unicode prefers for the punctuation mark. It marks possession, as in the eagle’s feathers, or letters left out.
Read the full guide
Straight or curly
The straight ' came with the typewriter: one key for the apostrophe and for both single quotation marks. The curly ’ is the typeset apostrophe, and the same character closes a single quotation. ʼ is the form for a letter, as where it marks a glottal stop.
Apostrophe codes
The apostrophe code in ASCII is 39, so Alt+39 types the straight one, and ' or ' writes it as a special character in HTML. The curly one is Alt+0146 on a number pad, Option+Shift+] on the U.S. layout and ’ in HTML.
No apostrophe emoji exists: the mark is plain text.
The apostrophe-like symbol for feet and minutes of arc, in math and measurement, is the prime, ′.
An apostrophe over e is really the acute accent: é, Alt+130.
Questions and answers
How do I type an apostrophe on the keyboard?
On the U.S. layout it is the key to the right of the semicolon, pressed without Shift; with Shift the same key types the double quotation mark. Alt+39 on a number pad gives the same character.
What is the difference between ' and ’?
' is the straight typewriter apostrophe, U+0027. ’ is the curly apostrophe of printed text, U+2019, which Unicode names right single quotation mark and prefers for the punctuation mark. Both mean the same thing.
Is the apostrophe a special character?
It is punctuation, not a letter or a digit: character 39 of ASCII. HTML gives it the entity names ' for the straight form and ’ for the curly one.
What is the Alt code for an apostrophe over e?
That letter is é, e with an acute accent: Alt+130, or Alt+0233. The capital É is Alt+144. The accent standing alone is ´, Alt+0180, a different character from the apostrophe.
Where does the word apostrophe come from?
From Greek, through Latin and French: the Greek phrase meant the accent of turning away, or elision. The mark still shows elision, the dropping of letters, as in don’t.
All 22 apostrophes and look-alikes
Start here 8
'ApostropheU+0027. The straight apostrophe of the keyboard, also called the typewriter or ASCII apostrophe: the key to the right of the semicolon on the U.S. layout. Alt+39 types it, its number in ASCII. ' in HTML.
’sApostrophe sThe curly mark and s, the ending of a possessive: the eagle’s feathers.
n’tContraction endingThe mark in the place of the dropped o of not: don’t.
＇Fullwidth apostropheU+FF07. The straight mark at the width of a Chinese or Japanese character.
‘Left single quotation markU+2018. The curl turned the other way, which opens a quotation. Alt+0145, Option+] on the U.S. layout, ‘ in HTML, \textquoteleft in LaTeX.
ʼModifier letter apostropheU+02BC. The apostrophe as a letter, for alphabets where the mark stands for a sound such as the glottal stop. No Alt code table holds it.
′PrimeU+2032. Unicode also names it minutes, feet: the mark for those units, in whose place an apostrophe is often typed. ′ in HTML, \prime in LaTeX.
’Right single quotation markU+2019. The curly apostrophe of printed text. Its name is a quotation mark, yet Unicode notes it as the preferred character for the apostrophe. Alt+0146, Option+Shift+] on the U.S. layout, ’ in HTML, \textquoteright in LaTeX.
Show all 22 apostrophes and look-alikes (14 more)
Apostrophes 1
՚Armenian apostropheU+055A. The apostrophe of the Armenian block; its first Unicode name was Armenian modifier letter right half ring.
Apostrophes that are letters 4
ʼnLatin small letter n preceded by apostropheU+0149. An apostrophe and n in one character, made for Afrikaans. Unicode marks it deprecated and strongly discourages its use. ʼn in HTML.
ˮModifier letter double apostropheU+02EE. Two marks in a single letter, which Unicode notes for Nenets.
ߴNKo high tone apostropheU+07F4. One of two apostrophes in the NKo block, this one named for the high tone; in the standard since version 5.0 (2006).
ߵNKo low tone apostropheU+07F5. Its low-tone partner in the same block.
Ready-made endings 3
gov’tAbbreviation with an apostropheA shortened word, the mark standing in for ernmen: government.
’veContraction of haveA contraction of have, as in we’ve.
s’S apostropheAfter the s, for owners in the plural: the twins’ coats.
Not an apostrophe 6
´Acute accentU+00B4. The accent of é standing alone. Alt+0180, Option+Shift+E on the U.S. layout, ´ in HTML, \textasciiacute in LaTeX.
`Grave accentU+0060. Called backtick or backquote; program text sometimes sets it against the straight apostrophe as a pair of quotes. ` in HTML.
׳Hebrew punctuation gereshU+05F3. The Hebrew mark for abbreviations, often typed as an apostrophe.
éLatin small letter e with acuteU+00E9. The letter people mean by an apostrophe over e: the mark on top is an acute accent. Alt+130, Alt+0233, é in HTML.
ʽModifier letter reversed commaU+02BD. A mirrored mark that Unicode notes for weak aspiration.
ʻModifier letter turned commaU+02BB. Curls the opposite way to an apostrophe and belongs to the alphabet of Hawaiian, where it is called the ʻokina.