Left Double Quotation Mark Symbol
“ is the left double quotation mark used to begin a quotation.
U+201C
The “ character is the left side of a pair of double quotation marks. It’s commonly used in typography to mark the start of quoted text. You can copy it directly or generate it using its Unicode code point.
Left Double Quotation Mark Symbol Meaning
The left double quotation mark “ (Unicode U+201C) is punctuation used at the beginning of a quoted passage. In well typeset text, it is paired with the right double quotation mark ” (U+201D) to frame a complete quote. Unlike the plain ASCII quote ("), it is a typographic character that looks more professional in many fonts and publishing styles. Use it when you want opening double quotes in dialogue, citations, headlines, or any layout where typographic quotation marks matter. In HTML and other environments, you can insert it via its entity or Unicode escape.
Common uses
- •Starting a quotation in essays, articles, and documents
- •Formatting dialogue in fiction and scripts
- •Marking quoted titles or phrases in headlines
- •Creating typographic quotation marks in web and graphic design
- •Displaying quotes accurately in UI text and product copy
Examples
“ Left Double Quotation Mark
- “She said, “Meet me at noon.”
- “The sign reads: “No parking.”
- “He called it “the best solution.”
- “As quoted in the report: “Results were consistent.”
- “Use the phrase “left double quotation mark” in your text.
Variations
Ready to copy
Technical codes
| Unicode | U+201C | |
| HTML Entity | “ | |
| HTML Code | “ | |
| CSS | \201C | |
| Alt Code | Alt + 8220 | |
| Decimal | 8220 |
How to type Left Double Quotation Mark Symbol (“)
On Windows
Hold Alt and type 8220 on the numeric keypad. In Word, type 201C then press Alt + X.
On Mac
Switch to the Unicode Hex Input keyboard, then hold Option and type 201C. Or press Control + Command + Space and search.
On Linux
Press Control + Shift + U, type 201c, then press Enter or Space.
Anywhere
Copy “ with the button above and paste it wherever you need it — this works on every device and in every app, with no keyboard shortcut to remember.
FAQ
What does the Left Double Quotation Mark symbol mean?
The left double quotation mark “ (Unicode U+201C) is punctuation used at the beginning of a quoted passage. In well typeset text, it is paired with the right double quotation mark ” (U+201D) to frame a complete quote. Unlike the plain ASCII quote ("), it is a typographic character that looks more professional in many fonts and publishing styles. Use it when you want opening double quotes in dialogue, citations, headlines, or any layout where typographic quotation marks matter. In HTML and other environments, you can insert it via its entity or Unicode escape.