Apostrophe '

' (U+27) 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: Apostrophe is part of the Symbols family (block: Basic Latin). 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 APOSTROPHE is a punctuation mark used to show possession, to mark omitted letters, and to indicate some quotes in certain styles. It has the codepoint U+27 in the Basic Latin block and is part of the Common script. Its history is tied to typographic shifts that moved from handwritten marks to printed forms. In plain text, users insert it to show ownership as in the cat's whiskers or to contract words like don't. It also signals quoted speech in some languages and styles, though this role varies by locale and publication rules. In everyday writing, the apostrophe helps structure text and convey tone; usage conventions differ by style and locale. Educators and editors stress clear use and consistency across a document, so readers can follow the meaning without confusion. Since the character is a basic symbol, it appears in many keyboards and fonts, yet its exact placement and form can differ by font, region, and style guide. Writers should check the preferred rules for their audience and purpose to keep punctuation precise, readable, and respectful of the chosen style.

Copy and input: the quickest method is to copy the character here. You can also insert it by its codepoint U+27 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.