What on earth is a `?

Hxc · 28 Dec 2007 at 17:16

Before you complain at me for being picky and all, I know, I am

Constantly on forums I see people using ` as an apostrophe when it really, really doesn't look correct. ' is an apostrophe, whereas that is...I don't have a clue, can someone shed some light?

I must also note that it is not purely people from one country, so I haven't placed it down to keyboard variations, though I can't even find that particular piece of punctuation on mine.

*checks post for spelling and grammar errors to prevent the irony hitting*

Cheers

4p · 28 Dec 2007 at 17:17

Isn't it console for games?

divine` · 28 Dec 2007 at 17:18

It's the button above Tab to the left of 1, on a UK keyboard layout.

I only use it in my username as often the word on its own is taken.

Lydzor · 28 Dec 2007 at 17:19

I believe it's an open speech mark, but people nowadays use " as open and closed.

Hxc · 28 Dec 2007 at 17:19

Aaah right, there it is. Still don't see why people use it as an apostrophe when the real one is over there with the colons and the like though.

nikebee · 28 Dec 2007 at 17:22

I've seen a fair few people write

don`t rather than don't.

I know it's called a backquote, it's common in UNIX programming, hence why it's made it's way to a QWERTY keyboard.

As far as regular every day use in the English language (or any other for that matter) I'm not sure.

It's to open a command in UNIX.

greengiant · 28 Dec 2007 at 17:22

I think the "`" is a single open quotation mark, which should be teamed up with a single close quotation mark. However there doesn't seem to be one on keyboard layouts!

Aod · 28 Dec 2007 at 17:22

Lydzor said:
I believe it's an open speech mark, but people nowadays use " as open and closed.

no it isn't.

' and ` are different.

its usage in all manners described here is incorrect:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/` will describe

divine` · 28 Dec 2007 at 17:22

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grave_accent

"On many computer keyboards, the grave accent occupies a key by itself, and is meant to be combined with vowels as a multi-key combination. However, programmers have used the key by itself for a number of tasks."

Dingleberry88 · 28 Dec 2007 at 17:23

Apostrophe.

skiba · 28 Dec 2007 at 17:24

it's a backtick...the bourne version of $() :rolleyes:

Hxc · 28 Dec 2007 at 17:24

Aaarg. Can't believe I did that. I even looked over it again to check.

decmatt · 28 Dec 2007 at 17:25

It's a grave accent isn't it :S

Isn't it for music?

csmager · 28 Dec 2007 at 17:25

Hxc said:
*checks post for spelling and grammar errors to prevent the irony hitting*

I saw the 8 minute edit for the mis-spelling of apostrophe. You don't fool me!

nikebee · 28 Dec 2007 at 17:27

divine` said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grave_accent

"On many computer keyboards, the grave accent occupies a key by itself, and is meant to be combined with vowels as a multi-key combination. However, programmers have used the key by itself for a number of tasks."

I've never known it to be intended as an accent, like an acute/grave/circumflex - surely thats what the ALT-keys are for to preform letters like á,à,á ?

As I said, I've always known it as a backquote for programming?

Hxc · 28 Dec 2007 at 17:28

csmager said:
I saw the 8 minute edit for the mis-spelling of apostrophe. You don't fool me!

Just fixed piece and shed as well

Thanks to all, it seems to indeed be a grave accent

Cupra · 28 Dec 2007 at 17:28

i only use it for games console

divine` · 28 Dec 2007 at 17:29

nikebee said:
I've never known it to be intended as an accent, like an acute/grave/circumflex - surely thats what the ALT-keys are for to preform letters like á,à,á ?

I'd guess the idea was you could press ` and a and it would type an à or something. I don't think this use is very prevalent any more though, it primarily exists now for programming usages.

If you read the 'Computer Related' section of the wiki page, it talks about it being better known as a backquote or backtick in programming circles.

nikebee · 28 Dec 2007 at 17:34

divine` said:
I'd guess the idea was you could press ` and a and it would type an à or something. I don't think this use is very prevalent any more though, it primarily exists now for programming usages.

If you read the 'Computer Related' section of the wiki page, it talks about it being better known as a backquote or backtick in programming circles.

I know that in Word you can use it, by pressing

CTRL+` then A or E for example to produce à or è

similarly CTRL+, then C will give ç

Lord knows why they haven't done this throughout Windows though :confused:

Perhaps that was the general idea, but then they didn't bothered and programmed the Windows Alt-Keys for this?

Greenlizard0 · 28 Dec 2007 at 17:48

divine` said:
I'd guess the idea was you could press ` and a and it would type an à or something. I don't think this use is very prevalent any more though, it primarily exists now for programming usages.

If you read the 'Computer Related' section of the wiki page, it talks about it being better known as a backquote or backtick in programming circles.

OT mate, but your sig is very nice!