[
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "The%20Duxbury%20Braille%20Translator%20embosses%20Word%20and%20Outlook%20smart%20apostrophe%20as%20\u2019%20rather%20than%20the%20straight%20%27.%20Can%20I%20permanently%20turn%20off%20smart%20apostrophes%20and%20smart%20quotes%20in%20Classic%20Outlook%20and%20Word%3F%20I%27m%20using%20the%20latest%20Windows%2011%20version%20and%20build%20updated%20March%2010%20and%20the%20latest%20version%20of%20JAWS%20so%20please%20give%20me%20instructions%20using%20the%20keyboard.%20Eliminate%20all%20references%20to%20mice%20and%20monitors."
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Yes\u2014with the current versions of Word and Outlook (\u201cClassic\u201d Outlook for Windows), you *can* permanently turn off smart quotes (curly / typographer\u2019s quotes) and smart apostrophes using only the keyboard. Below are step-by-step keyboard instructions, without any use of mouse.\n\nThese settings are part of Microsoft Office (Word and Outlook) and are not specific to JAWS. Once changed, they apply globally within Office apps, so your Duxbury Braille Translator should then get straight apostrophes and quotes rather than smart ones.\n\n---\n\n### Disable Smart Quotes / Smart Apostrophes in Word (Windows 11, Office latest build)\n\n1. Launch Word (Start Word or open a document), and ensure Word has the keyboard focus.\n2. Press **Alt** + **F** to open the **File** tab.\n3. Press **T** to choose **Options** (Word Options dialog opens).\n4. Press **P** to switch focus to the **Proofing** section in the left panel.\n5. Press **Alt** + **C** (or press **Tab** until you reach the \u201cAutoCorrect Options\u2026\u201d button) and then press **Enter**\u2014this opens the AutoCorrect dialog.\n6. In the AutoCorrect dialog, press **Alt** + **A** to switch to the **AutoFormat As You Type** tab.\n7. Use **Tab** (or Shift+Tab) to move among the checkboxes until you land on the checkbox labeled **\"Straight quotes\" with \u201csmart quotes\u201d** under the **Replace as you type** group.\n8. When that checkbox has focus, if it is checked, press **Spacebar** to *clear* (uncheck) it. If it's already unchecked, leave it.\n9. Next, press **Ctrl** + **Page Down** (or **Ctrl** + **Tab**) to go to the **AutoFormat** tab.\n10. Tab until you reach the checkbox labeled **\"Straight quotes\" with \u201csmart quotes\u201d** under the **Replace** group, and press **Spacebar** to *clear* it if it's checked.\n11. Press **Enter** to activate the **OK** button in this dialog.\n12. Press **Enter** again to accept and close Word Options.\n\nNow, Word will stop converting straight quotes ( ' or \" ) into curly ones, for all new typing.\n\n---\n\n### Disable Smart Quotes in Classic Outlook for Windows (latest Office build)\n\nSmart quotes in Outlook are controlled through the same AutoCorrect mechanism as in Word. So you disable them similarly:\n\n1. Open Outlook.\n2. Press **Alt** + **F** to open the **File** menu.\n3. Press **O** to open **Options** (Outlook Options dialog opens).\n4. Press **M** to move to the **Mail** section.\n5. Press **Alt** + **E** or **Tab** until you can access the **Editor Options\u2026** button, then press **Enter**.\n6. In the Editor Options dialog, press **Alt** + **P** to go to **Proofing** (if needed).\n7. Then press **Alt** + **C** to open **AutoCorrect Options\u2026** (same dialog as in Word).\n8. Then **Alt** + **A** to go to **AutoFormat As You Type** tab.\n9. Tab to the checkbox **\"Straight quotes\" with \u201csmart quotes\u201d** and press **Spacebar** to uncheck.\n10. Use **Ctrl** + **Page Down** (or **Ctrl** + **Tab**) to go to **AutoFormat** tab.\n11. Tab to the same checkbox in that tab and press **Spacebar** to uncheck.\n12. Press **Enter** to accept in AutoCorrect dialog.\n13. Press **Enter** to accept in Editor Options.\n14. Press **Enter** to accept in Outlook Options.\n\n---\n\n### Instantly Fix Smart Quotes / Apostrophes Already Inserted\n\nIf you type a quote or apostrophe and it gets turned into a smart version before your settings are saved or while moving through text, you can force Word or Outlook to revert just that one using:\n\n- After typing the curly quote/apostrophe, press **Ctrl** + **Z** immediately. This will undo the automatic replacement and leave the straight one in. ([thinkforce.one](https://www.thinkforce.one/2024/06/14/change-quotation-style-in-non-english-microsoft-word/?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n### What Microsoft Documentation Says\n\n- Word\u2019s support page confirms that under **File \u2192 Options \u2192 Proofing \u2192 AutoCorrect Options** you can turn smart quotes on or off. Under *AutoFormat As You Type*, clear \u201cStraight quotes with smart quotes.\u201d Also on the *AutoFormat* tab, clear that same checkbox. ([support.microsoft.com](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/smart-quotes-in-word-and-powerpoint-702fc92e-b723-4e3d-b2cc-71dedaf2f343?utm_source=openai))  \n- Outlook\u2019s settings mirror Word\u2019s in the Editor Options \u2192 AutoCorrect dialog. ([support.hkmci.com](https://support.hkmci.com/en/support/solutions/articles/4000089622-garbled-text-in-outlook?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\nIf you want, I can also give you the *JAWS-specific keystrokes* to ensure that the Duxbury Braille Translator sees the straight apostrophe after typing\u2014sometimes what JAWS reads depends on what gets fed into it. Do you want those too?"
    },
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "Yes%20please."
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Here are some JAWS-specific keyboard tips to help ensure that the Duxbury Braille Translator (DBT) and JAWS together give you *straight apostrophes* instead of smart/curly ones:\n\n---\n\n## 1. Use **Ctrl + Z immediately after typing a quote/apostrophe**\n\n- In Word or Outlook, when you type the apostrophe or quote key and it auto-converts to a smart version (\u2019 or \u201c etc.), immediately press **Ctrl + Z**. That will undo the automatic replacement and leave the straight quote/apostrophe (') in place.  \n  This is the method recommended by Microsoft when you want specific quotes to remain straight even when smart quotes are generally enabled. ([learn.microsoft.com](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5227397/how-to-change-a-smart-quote-to-a-straight-quote?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## 2. Typing echo and verbosity settings in JAWS\n\nThese settings affect whether JAWS \u201creads out loud\u201d the punctuation, but *do not* stop Word/Outlook from using smart apostrophes internally (that\u2019s controlled by Office settings as in your previous instructions). Still, adjusting these can help you hear whether the apostrophe is straight or curly as you type or read.\n\nTo check or modify how JAWS treats punctuation and what it announces:\n\n- Press **Insert + V** to open the **Quick Settings** dialog.\n- Use **Tab** or Arrow keys to move through categories. Find **Punctuation** or **Punctuation Level**. In different modes, this controls how much punctuation JAWS reads: none, some, most, or all.  \n  If you set it to \u201cAll\u201d, JAWS will read apostrophe characters (and quotes) explicitly when reading text. This helps distinguish straight vs curly during reading. ([online.math.uh.edu](https://online.math.uh.edu/jaws-tutorial/?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## 3. How to assign or check a JAWS keystroke that toggles punctuation level\n\nIf you want a shortcut you can press at any time to have JAWS switch how it handles punctuation (for instance, making JAWS read apostrophes explicitly):\n\n- Press **Insert + F2** to open the **JAWS Manager**.\n- Navigate via keyboard to **Keyboard Manager**.\n- In that screen, go to the **Default** Key Map (usually \u201cDefault\u201d or your profile).\n- Tab to the list of available scripts. Find **\u201cSet Punctuation Level\u201d** (or similar).\n- With that script selected, use **Alt** + Right Arrow to go to the *Action* menu. Then choose **Add Keystroke** (or use **Ctrl + A**) to assign a keystroke (for example, **Ctrl + -** or another key you prefer and is unused).\n- Confirm the addition by pressing **Spacebar** when asked. ([support.freedomscientific.com](https://support.freedomscientific.com/Content/Documents/Other/ScriptManual/02-7_AddingChangingAndRemovingKeystrokes.htm?utm_source=openai))\n\nOnce done, pressing your chosen keystroke will cycle or switch through the punctuation levels, so you can temporarily set JAWS to read all punctuation (so you\u2019ll hear the apostrophe / quote mark when it\u2019s typed or read).\n\n---\n\n## 4. Putting it all together (for DBT usage)\n\nHere\u2019s how you could use the above to ensure DBT sees straight apostrophes, and you\u2019re confident they\u2019re not smart:\n\n- First, disable smart quotes globally in Word/Outlook with the steps from earlier. This ensures new apostrophes are straight.\n- When typing, if somehow a smart apostrophe is inserted (for example in a document transferred or copied in), press **Ctrl + Z** immediately after typing that apostrophe to force it back to straight.\n- Use the assigned JAWS keyboard shortcut (from step 3) to temporarily switch your punctuation level to \u201cAll\u201d so that when reading the text\u2014especially just after typing\u2014you can hear whether what you typed was a straight or smart apostrophe. If JAWS announces \u201capostrophe\u201d or \u201csingle quote\u201d in \u201cAll\u201d punctuation level, that confirms the character is being recognized as a punctuation mark.\n- If you still hear a curly apostrophe being announced, double check the Office AutoCorrect / AutoFormat settings as described earlier.\n\n---\n\nIf you want, I can give you a sample sequence you can try live to test this (type something, check it, see what DBT gets)."
    },
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "No%20thanks.%20What%20you%27ve%20given%20me%20is%20exactly%20what%20I%20was%20looking%20for."
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Glad to hear it\u2019s hitting the mark. If you ever want a walk-through refresher, or tips for other Office-JAWS-DBT combinations, just holler."
    }
]