AutoCorrect Uses Smart Apostrophes, Not Standard Apostrophes

   aren't            it'll       what's
   can't             it's        where's
   can't have been   it's a      who's
   company's         it's not    who've
   couldn't          it's the    won't
   didn't            let's       wouldn't
   doesn't           she'll      you'd
   don't             shouldn't   you're
   don't know        that's      you're a
   hadn't            they'll     you're an
   hasn't            they're     you're her
   haven't           they've     you're here
   he'll             wasn't      you're his
   here's            we'd        you're my
   I'm               we'll       you're the
   I'd               we're       you're their
   I'll              we've       you're your
   isn't             weren't     you've
				

MORE INFORMATION

The AutoCorrect feature in Microsoft Excel is designed to help correct common typing mistakes. For example, if you accidentally type "hte" instead of "the," AutoCorrect automatically changes the incorrect text to "the". To view or make changes to the AutoCorrect list, click AutoCorrect on the Tools menu.

Because the AutoCorrect list is shared between multiple programs (Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, and so on), some of the entries in the list are designed to take advantage of features in the different programs, such as "smart" quotes and apostrophes.

As a result, the entries in the list that contain apostrophes use "smart" apostrophes, not standard apostrophes. In Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows, "smart" apostrophes have a code of 146. There is a minor difference in appearance between "smart" and standard apostrophes, so you may not notice when this problem occurs. However, you can demonstrate the problem by performing the following steps:

1. In Microsoft Excel, create a new workbook.
2. In Sheet1, type the following:

   A1: theyve B1: =CODE(MID(A1,5,1))
   A2: they've B2: =CODE(MID(A2,5,1))
   A3: =IF(A1=A2,TRUE,FALSE)

   Do not type an apostrophe in cell A1; type a standard apostrophe in cell A2.

Note that the formula in cell A3 returns the value FALSE because the AutoCorrected contents of cell A1 are not the same as the contents of cell A2, even though they may appear identical.

Also note that the CODE formulas in cells B1 and B2 return different values since the code of a "smart" apostrophe is different than the code of a standard apostrophe.