Left Single Quotation Mark ‘

‘ (U+2018) is a standard Unicode character that you can copy and paste anywhere text is accepted. This page provides a concise reference with safe tips, internal links, and practical guidance so you can use it reliably across apps and platforms.

What it is and where it’s used: Left Single Quotation Mark is part of the Symbols family (block: General Punctuation). If you need styled or decorative alternatives, try our Fancy Text tool to generate compatible text that works in most modern interfaces.

History & usage: The LEFT SINGLE QUOTATION MARK is a punctuation sign with the codepoint U+2018. It sits in General Punctuation and is part of the Common script. This character marks the start of a quoted section in many writing systems. Punctuation marks structure text and convey tone. They show where a speaker or idea begins and ends. The opening quote helps readers identify quoted material and set a conversational flow. Usage conventions differ by style and locale, so the same mark can appear in different ways in different regions or publications. Some traditions use it to begin a quotation and then switch to a closing mark later in the text. Other styles treat opening and closing quotes as pairs that bracket direct speech, titles, or emphasized words. The character helps readers parse sentences and understand intent, especially in longer passages with dialogue or cited phrases. As writing norms evolve, decisions about using this mark can change with fonts, typesetting rules, and editorial guidelines. In history, similar marks emerged in various languages and formalized in print to guide reading and tone.

Copy and input: the quickest method is to copy the character here. You can also insert it by its codepoint U+2018 in many development tools or editors. Some operating systems provide a character viewer or input palette that lets you search by name or code and insert the glyph into documents.

Display and fallback: if you see an empty box (tofu) or a placeholder rectangle, the active font might not include this codepoint. Switching to a font with broader Unicode coverage or using a fallback font usually fixes the issue. On the web, ensure the page’s font stack includes a general‑purpose fallback.

Related references: browse the Categories for similar characters. When choosing a symbol, prefer the official codepoint for semantic clarity and better compatibility with search, copy, and accessibility tooling.

See our category page for related symbols.