To type an apostrophe from the basic keyboard layout on a standard physical keyboard, press the key located to the right of the semicolon (;) key. On a US keyboard layout, this key produces an apostrophe (') when pressed without the Shift key.
Where to find and type an apostrophe on a basic keyboard
On Windows and Mac physical keyboards, the apostrophe key is typically located on the same key as the single quotation mark, to the right of the semicolon key. A single press of this key types an apostrophe. These methods work regardless of the physical key labeling.
Typing an apostrophe on an iPhone or iPad
Apple documents that you type special characters by touching and holding a related key, then sliding to the character you want. To find the apostrophe, touch and hold the key for a related punctuation mark, such as the comma or period key, and slide to the apostrophe when it appears.
Typing an apostrophe on Android and Gboard
No official basic-layout apostrophe typing steps were documented in the retrieved results for Android’s built-in keyboard. The only specific apostrophe-related Android result retrieved was about Gboard’s “Auto-switch after apostrophes” shortcut, which is not the same as typing an apostrophe from the base layout. That Gboard shortcut is documented as enabled by default in version 16.7 and can be turned off in “Settings > Preferences > Shortcuts.” To type an apostrophe on Gboard, look for the apostrophe key on the default letter layout or long-press the comma key if the apostrophe is not immediately visible. If you use emojis and custom keyboards, check your keyboard app’s settings for the apostrophe key location.
What to do when the apostrophe key isn't visible
If the apostrophe key is not visible on your physical keyboard, check whether an alternate keyboard layout is selected in your operating system’s language or region settings. Some layouts place punctuation on different keys. You can also use the on-screen or virtual keyboard as a fallback: on Windows, open the On-Screen Keyboard from the Ease of Access settings; on Mac, enable the Keyboard Viewer from the Input Sources settings. On mobile devices, switch to a different keyboard app or check your current keyboard’s settings for layout options. Because device-specific variations exist, the exact key location may differ, and the next step would be to check the specific keyboard app or carrier help page for the exact apostrophe key location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Shift key to type an apostrophe?
No, the Shift key is not used to directly input the apostrophe character. Instead, it is used in conjunction with other keys to access additional characters or symbols.
What if I'm not able to find the apostrophe key on my keyboard?
If you can't locate the apostrophe key on your keyboard, check if an alternate keyboard layout is selected or if the key is labeled differently. You can also use the on-screen keyboard or virtual keyboard on your device to input the apostrophe character.
Is there an alternative method to type an apostrophe on a mobile device?
Yes, on many mobile devices, you can find the apostrophe key on the virtual keyboard. Tap the key labeled with an apostrophe symbol to enter the character.
Are there any shortcuts to type an apostrophe?
Yes, there are keyboard shortcuts available on some operating systems. For example, on Windows, you can use the Alt code method by holding the Alt key while typing 0-3-9 on the numeric keypad. On Mac, you can press Option + Shift + ] to input the apostrophe character.
