Mac Dictation Quotations

Scrivener Scrivener for macOS
1

When I use Mac Dictate in Scrivener, saying Quote and End Quote, it adds " marks to the screen, but they are vertical up and down. Compare this to when I type them, and the front and end quotes point inward.

This would be no big deal if they showed up properly when I compiled, but this isn’t the case.

Is this a Scrivener bug? Is there any way I can fix or easily correct this?

2

I don’t know if it’s a bug, but you may resort to the Format| Convert| Quotes to Smart/Straight Quotes command at the end of your dictation. That should fix the wrongly entered quotes.

Hope this helps!

3

I would try the same test in TextEdit, and make sure Edit/Substitutions/Smart Quotes is checked off. When you type it should act just like Scrivener (it’s the same thing in fact). Now try with dictation, any different?

4

Which version of OS X?

I’d check the quote settings in OS X…

  1. Apple menu > System Preferences
  2. Keyboard > Text > Use smart quotes and dashes
  3. Double Quotes and Single Quotes > select your preferred quote styles
  4. Exit System Preferences

Makes any difference?

5

Thanks for the excellent suggestions everyone.

Looks like I’ll just have to do the “Convert Quotes to Smart” before compiling my finished novel.

No big deal. Much appreciated!