typography of the apostrophe

[Brian Forte]

>>However, in standard U.S. typography, the single open quote is so 

>>rarely used (only quotes within quotes) that that particular 

>>"smartness" should be off by default. Even at the beginning of 

>>word, it's still more likely to be an apostrophe signifying 

>>elision. `Tis a hateful, hateful thing, I tells ya.

>

>Sounds like a fair point.


Except in standard Commonwealth typography the single open quote is 
common as muck.

In the US, most style guides stipulate the double-quote (") character 
for direct speech and the single-quote character for indirect speech 
(ie a speaking character quoting another person to a third-party). In 
the UK and Australia, the reverse is true.

I'd be a touch peeved if Markdown's algorithms were changed to 
convenience US typographic habit at the expense of mine (and many 
others).

Just a quick note from the Antipodes.

Regards,

Brian Forte.
-- 
Brian Forte, <mailto:bforte at betweenborders.com>
Writer, editor, scripter, dangerous mind.