just like digits. Case is ignored.
@findex insert-char
-@kindex C-x 8 RET
+@kindex C-x 8
@cindex Unicode characters, inserting
@cindex insert Unicode character
@cindex characters, inserting by name or code-point
+@cindex curly quotes
+@cindex curved quotes
+ A few common Unicode characters can be inserted via a command
+starting with @kbd{C-x 8}. For example, @kbd{C-x 8 [} inserts @t{‘}
+which is Unicode code-point @code{U+2018} LEFT SINGLE QUOTATION MARK,
+sometimes called a left single ``curved quote'' or ``curly quote''.
+Similarly, @kbd{C-x 8 ]}, @kbd{C-x 8 @{} and @kbd{C-x 8 @}} insert the
+curved quotes @t{’}, @t{“} and @t{”}, respectively. Also, a working
+Alt key acts like @kbd{C-x 8}; e.g., @kbd{A-[} acts like @kbd{C-x 8 [}
+and inserts @t{‘}. To see which characters have @kbd{C-x 8}
+shorthands, type @kbd{C-x 8 C-h}.
+
Alternatively, you can use the command @kbd{C-x 8 @key{RET}}
(@code{insert-char}). This prompts for the Unicode name or code-point
of a character, using the minibuffer. If you enter a name, the
Unicode), or a number with a specified radix, e.g., @code{#o23072}
(octal); @xref{Integer Basics,,, elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference
Manual}. The command then inserts the corresponding character into
-the buffer. For example, both of the following insert the infinity
-sign (Unicode code-point @code{U+221E}):
+the buffer.
+
+ In some contexts, if you type a quotation using grave accent and
+apostrophe @t{`like this'}, it is converted to a form @t{‘like this’}
+using single quotation marks. Similarly, typing a quotation @t{``like
+this''} using double grave accent and apostrophe converts it to a form
+@t{“like this”} using double quotation marks. @xref{Quotation Marks}.
+
+ For example, the following all insert the same character:
@example
-@kbd{C-x 8 @key{RET} infinity @key{RET}}
-@kbd{C-x 8 @key{RET} 221e @key{RET}}
+@kbd{C-x 8 @key{RET} left single quotation mark @key{RET}}
+@kbd{C-x 8 @key{RET} left sin @key{TAB} @key{RET}}
+@kbd{C-x 8 @key{RET} 2018 @key{RET}}
+@kbd{C-x 8 [}
+@kbd{A-[} @r{(if the Alt key works)}
+@kbd{`} @r{(in Electric Quote mode)}
@end example
- A numeric argument to @kbd{C-q} or @kbd{C-x 8 @key{RET}} specifies
+ A numeric argument to @kbd{C-q} or @kbd{C-x 8 ...} specifies
how many copies of the character to insert (@pxref{Arguments}).
@node Moving Point
properly. @xref{DEL Does Not Delete}, if you encounter this problem.
The @key{Delete} (@code{delete-forward-char}) command deletes in the
-``opposite direction'': it deletes the character after point, i.e., the
+opposite direction: it deletes the character after point, i.e., the
character under the cursor. If point was at the end of a line, this
joins the following line onto this one. Like @kbd{@key{DEL}}, it
deletes the text in the region if the region is active (@pxref{Mark}).
of the prefix argument.
(What if you do want to insert five copies of @samp{0}? Type @kbd{M-5
-C-u 0}. Here, @kbd{C-u} ``terminates'' the prefix argument, so that
+C-u 0}. Here, @kbd{C-u} terminates the prefix argument, so that
the next keystroke begins the command that you want to execute. Note
that this meaning of @kbd{C-u} applies only to this case. For the
usual role of @kbd{C-u}, see below.)
multiplies it by sixteen. Thus, @kbd{C-u C-u C-f} moves forward
sixteen characters. Other useful combinations are @kbd{C-u C-n},
@kbd{C-u C-u C-n} (move down a good fraction of a screen), @kbd{C-u
-C-u C-o} (make ``a lot'' of blank lines), and @kbd{C-u C-k} (kill four
+C-u C-o} (make sixteen blank lines), and @kbd{C-u C-k} (kill four
lines).
You can use a numeric argument before a self-inserting character to