Quote:
Originally Posted by Renate
Huh? I'd say '90s.
Isn't apostrophe for contraction and isn't skipping century a contraction?
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I show an opening single quote, which is what a word processor does by default (and is wrong) and then the correct version. Typographically, in English, an apostrophe and closing single quote are the same glpyh/symbol, a “’”
Have you used a typewriter single quote? It is not an apostrophe, opening quote or closing quote. It’s only ever used legitimately in programming, computer/phone text not typeset, and certain foreign words or for dictionary entries.
Indeed ’90s and ’tis are examples of leading apostrophes. You will sometimes see even paper books with the wrong ‘90s and ‘tis because that’s what uncorrected smart quote feature does.
The Teletype (since 1928) was based on the typewriter which for mechanical reasons used ' and " instead of extra keys. Some did not have 1 or 0 either. Computers used teletypes for about 30 years.
IBM compounded the issue with the stupid US layout PC Keyboard. UNIX, Solaris, Linux at least had the Compose Key and non-US keyboards were the first on PC with Alt-Gr for extra characters, Though MS Windows Keyboard maps make poor use of it compared to Linux since it appeared.
None of it is an excuse for bad proofing. Issues using a PC for a MSS have been known since before the IBM PC, since 1976 (CP/M based word processing).