turned comma
B2/C1Technical (typography, grammar), sometimes informal in description.
Definition
Meaning
A punctuation mark (') used to indicate possession, omission of letters, or plurality for certain abbreviations; also called apostrophe.
Refers specifically to the apostrophe when its shape resembles a comma that has been rotated. It can also informally describe the appearance of certain diacritical marks or symbols in typography.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is descriptive rather than standard. It's often used when explaining the shape of the apostrophe to learners or in typographic contexts, distinguishing it from the "straight" or "typewriter" apostrophe.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in use of the apostrophe itself. The term 'turned comma' is equally uncommon in both variants and is a descriptive/metalinguistic term rather than a standard grammatical label.
Connotations
Neutral, descriptive. Slightly pedagogical or typographic in tone.
Frequency
Very low frequency term. The standard term is 'apostrophe' in all contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [punctuation mark] is a turned comma.You'll see a turned comma before the ['s].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Mind your p's and q's (and turned commas).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in brand style guides discussing typography (e.g., 'Use the turned comma, not the straight quote, for apostrophes.').
Academic
Found in linguistics or typography papers discussing punctuation marks and their forms.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Speakers would say 'apostrophe'.
Technical
Primary context. Used in printing, type design, word processing software, and HTML/CSS (discussing ‘curly’ vs. 'straight' quotes).
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- Make sure you use the turned-comma character in the document.
- The font's turned comma glyph is particularly elegant.
American English
- Use the turned-comma style for apostrophes in the manuscript.
- The turned comma punctuation is missing from this code.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This mark ' is a turned comma.
- The turned comma is in the word "don't".
- In proper typography, an apostrophe is shaped like a turned comma.
- You need to insert a turned comma to show possession, as in "Sarah's book".
- The typesetter replaced all the straight quotes with correctly oriented turned commas.
- A common error in web design is the substitution of a prime symbol for a turned comma apostrophe.
- The glyph's design was criticised for its poorly differentiated turned comma and closing single quotation mark.
- Unicode distinguishes between the modifier letter apostrophe and the right single quotation mark, though both may appear as a turned comma.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a comma doing a gymnastic roll, turning upside down to become an apostrophe hovering above the line.
Conceptual Metaphor
PUNCTUATION MARKS ARE TOOLS FOR MEANING (the turned comma 'possesses' or 'contracts' meaning).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with the Russian comma (,). The apostrophe (') is used differently and is often called "апостроф". The term "turned comma" is a descriptive English term not used in Russian.
Common Mistakes
- Using a straight typewriter apostrophe ( ' ) instead of the typographic turned comma ( ’ ).
- Placing the turned comma incorrectly in plurals (e.g., 'tomato's' for 'tomatoes').
- Confusing it with an opening single quotation mark, which has a different orientation.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a 'turned comma' in English grammar?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Apostrophe' is the official name. 'Turned comma' is a descriptive term used mainly in typography to describe its visual appearance, distinguishing it from a straight typewriter apostrophe.
It's generally not recommended for general language teaching. Use 'apostrophe'. 'Turned comma' is useful only in specific contexts where you need to describe the shape, such as in graphic design or advanced formatting lessons.
In most word processors (like Microsoft Word), it's created automatically when you type the apostrophe key. To ensure it's the correct character, you may need to disable 'straight quotes' in the software's autoformatting settings or use a specific keyboard shortcut (often Alt+0146 on Windows).
They are often the same glyph (’) in many fonts, but they serve different Unicode purposes. Conceptually, the apostrophe (turned comma) is used for possession and contraction, while a closing single quotation mark is used to end a quoted phrase within another quote. Some advanced typographic software or fonts may draw them with slight differences.