typography of the apostrophe

[Jelks Cabaniss]

Jon Noring wrote:

> There's also the "prime" and "double prime" as used in mathematics

> (differential, for example), the "foot and inch marks" (like 6'2"),

> angle of arc (5 deg. 25' 33"), as a non-breaking modifier (like

> "Ja'afar" from the 1001 Arabian Nights -- note, this is NOT an

> apostrophe!)


Indeed.  That echoes what Damian was saying -- "smart quoting" can only go
so far (precluding AI :).  I've run up against the foot and inch marks issue
myself before.  

But even with all these counter-examples, it's amazing how much common
everyday text is converted perfectly.
 

> Of course, if ASCII-conformance is required, where one can only use

> the keyboard " and ' characters in a "master" document, then games

> have to be played to differentiate the " and ' used as quotation marks

> from the other uses of these characters.


Or *selectively* smart-quote.


/Jelks