Smart Quotes Converter
Convert between straight quotes and smart (curly) quotes. Also convert apostrophes, dashes, and ellipses.
About the Smart Quotes Converter
Our free online smart quotes converter switches between straight quotes (“” and ‘’) and typographic curly quotes (“” and ‘’). Also converts apostrophes, en-dashes, em-dashes, and ellipses. Use “Make Smart” to turn plain quotes into proper typographic quotes, or “Make Straight” to convert curly quotes back to plain ASCII quotes. Perfect for writers, editors, and developers who need proper typographic formatting.
Features
- Convert straight quotes to smart (curly) typographic quotes
- Convert smart quotes back to straight ASCII quotes
- Also handles apostrophes, en-dashes, em-dashes, and ellipsis
- Preserves all other text exactly as-is
- Instant conversion with a single click
- Copy converted text to clipboard
- 100% private — browser-only processing
How to use this tool
The Smart Quotes Converter works right in your browser — no signup, no installation. Follow these steps:
- Paste or type your text into the input area.
- Click "Make Smart" to convert straight quotes to curly typographic quotes.
- Click "Make Straight" to convert curly quotes back to plain ASCII quotes.
- Click Copy to save the converted text to your clipboard.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between straight and smart quotes?
Straight quotes (“ and ‘) are the basic ASCII characters found on keyboards. Smart (curly) quotes (“ ” and ‘ ’) are typographic characters that curl toward the text they enclose. Smart quotes look more professional in printed documents and published writing.
Does this also handle apostrophes?
Yes. The tool converts straight apostrophes to curly apostrophes and vice versa. A curly apostrophe (’) is properly distinguished from a closing single quote based on context.
What about dashes and ellipses?
Yes. The tool also converts two or three hyphens (--) to en-dash (–) or em-dash (—), and three periods (...) to a proper ellipsis character (…).
Using the results
Use the Smart Quotes Converter to transform supported text or data formats in your browser. Review the output before replacing your original, since some conversions change formatting or discard information.