When you type a straight quotation mark or apostrophe in PowerPoint, the application automatically converts it into a curly smart quote. This behavior happens because AutoCorrect is set to replace straight quotes with smart quotes by default. While smart quotes look polished in most documents, they cause problems in code snippets, technical specifications, and text that will be copied into programming tools or web forms. This article explains how to disable the smart quote replacement in PowerPoint permanently.
Key Takeaways: Disabling Smart Quotes in PowerPoint
- File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options > AutoFormat As You Type > Replace straight quotes with smart quotes: Uncheck this box to stop automatic replacement while typing.
- File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options > AutoFormat > Replace straight quotes with smart quotes: Uncheck this box to stop replacement when pasting text or applying formatting after the fact.
- Ctrl+Z (Undo): Press immediately after a smart quote appears to revert it to a straight quote for one-off corrections without changing settings.
Why PowerPoint Converts Straight Quotes to Smart Quotes
PowerPoint uses a feature in AutoCorrect called smart quotes. This feature replaces the straight quotation mark character (U+0022) and the straight apostrophe (U+0027) with typographic curly versions. The left and right curly quotes are different characters: the opening quote is U+201C and the closing quote is U+201D. The curly apostrophe is U+2019.
The replacement happens at two points. First, when you type a quote or apostrophe directly in a text box, the AutoFormat As You Type tab controls the behavior. Second, when you paste text or apply formatting changes, the AutoFormat tab controls the same replacement. Both tabs must be configured to stop smart quotes entirely.
Smart quotes are the default for English-language versions of Microsoft 365 because they improve readability in body text and formal documents. However, for users who write SQL queries, HTML code, JSON strings, or plain-text content, straight quotes are required. The curly characters break syntax in programming languages and may display incorrectly in plain-text editors or web forms.
Steps to Turn Off Smart Quotes in PowerPoint
- Open the AutoCorrect settings dialog
Click File in the ribbon. Click Options at the bottom of the left pane. In the PowerPoint Options dialog, click Proofing on the left. Click the AutoCorrect Options button near the top of the right pane. - Disable smart quotes for typing
In the AutoCorrect dialog, click the AutoFormat As You Type tab. Locate the section labeled Replace as you type. Uncheck the box labeled Straight quotes with smart quotes. Click OK to close the AutoCorrect dialog. - Disable smart quotes for pasted and formatted text
Open the AutoCorrect dialog again by repeating step 1. This time, click the AutoFormat tab. Uncheck the box labeled Straight quotes with smart quotes. Click OK to close the AutoCorrect dialog. - Confirm the change in PowerPoint Options
In the PowerPoint Options dialog, click OK to save all changes. The setting takes effect immediately. New text you type or paste will no longer be converted to smart quotes.
Quick Undo Method for a Single Quote
If you only need a straight quote once and do not want to change the global setting, press Ctrl+Z immediately after the smart quote appears. PowerPoint will revert the curly character back to a straight quote. This undo works only for the last action. You must press Ctrl+Z before typing any other character.
If Smart Quotes Still Appear After Disabling the Setting
Smart Quotes Persist in Text Copied From Other Applications
When you paste text from Word, Outlook, or a web browser, the text may already contain curly quotes. Disabling the setting in PowerPoint does not change the source text. To fix this, paste the text into Notepad first. Notepad strips all formatting and converts characters to plain text. Copy the plain text from Notepad and paste it into PowerPoint. The quotes will now be straight.
Smart Quotes Appear When Using the Equation Editor
The Equation Editor in PowerPoint has its own font and character handling. The AutoCorrect setting for smart quotes does not apply inside equation objects. To type a straight quote in an equation, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+’ (the apostrophe key) to insert a straight single quote, or Ctrl+Shift+” (the double-quote key) for a straight double quote.
Smart Quotes Reappear After an Office Update
Occasionally, a Microsoft 365 update can reset the AutoCorrect settings to defaults. After a major update, check both the AutoFormat As You Type tab and the AutoFormat tab to ensure the smart quote box remains unchecked. You can also export your AutoCorrect settings using a third-party tool or manually note your preferences after each update.
PowerPoint Versions and Smart Quote Settings
| Item | PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 / PowerPoint 2021 | PowerPoint 2019 and Earlier |
|---|---|---|
| AutoCorrect dialog location | File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options | File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options |
| Tab for typing replacement | AutoFormat As You Type | AutoFormat As You Type |
| Tab for paste replacement | AutoFormat | AutoFormat |
| Setting name | Straight quotes with smart quotes | Straight quotes with smart quotes |
| Immediate effect after change | Yes, no restart required | Yes, no restart required |
PowerPoint for Mac uses a different menu path. On a Mac, open PowerPoint > Preferences > AutoCorrect. Uncheck Use smart quotes. The setting applies to both typing and pasting.
PowerPoint for the web does not support AutoCorrect customization. The smart quote replacement is fixed and cannot be turned off. If you need straight quotes in a presentation created with PowerPoint for the web, type the text in a local application such as Notepad, then paste it into the web version.
You can now control whether PowerPoint replaces straight quotes with smart quotes. Disable the setting in both AutoFormat tabs to stop the replacement for all new text. Use Notepad as an intermediate step when pasting from other applications. For one-off cases, press Ctrl+Z immediately after the smart quote appears. The same AutoCorrect dialog also controls other automatic replacements such as fractions, ordinals, and hyphens, so you can review those settings at the same time.