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On iOS it’s really almost impossible to type -- in an input that isn’t explicitly defined to allow it. In this comment box for instance, I had to type `- -` (da
by brirec 3y ago
On iOS it’s really almost impossible to type -- in an input that isn’t explicitly defined to allow it. In this comment box for instance, I had to type `- -` (dash space dash), and then delete the space in the middle. I’m not sure if it’s possible to disable this behavior on a web text box.
Virtually any other method of inputting -- automatically, invariably converts it to a single em dash.
The best part about this is that it happens silently and automatically, unlike every other autocorrect on the platform. “Smart punctuation” can be disabled globally for the entire device, but I don’t think that’s particularly reasonable, either.
- evrimoztamur 3y agoWhat frustrates me is that this is a solved problem: In Word, for example, automatic substitutions can be overridden by undoing (via Ctrl Z or backspace) and repeating the same sequence, which will disable substitution. Preferably I should be able do type - - and then have it be replaced by —, and backspace to turn it into --.
- isametry 3y agoI agree with your first paragraph but not the second. What frustrates me is any sort of override of my keyboard keys – 100% of the time when I press backspace, I intend to delete one (1) character behind the blinking cursor. Not a whole word, not perform undo, not anything else. One character. (Alternatively, if text is selected, then of course I’d like to delete the selection.)
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- stouset 3y agoTurn off "Smart Punctuation" in Keyboard settings.
- saagarjha 3y agoOk, but I want that on for the 90% of time I am talking to people.
- isoprophlex 3y ago-- ? I had no trouble at all. iPhone 11, iOS 17. Edit... as another commenter points out: it's the "smart punctuation" keyboard setting that handles this. I have it turned off...
- jstanley 3y ago> I had to type `- -` (dash space dash), and then delete the space in the middle Which itself seems like a bug, if the intended behaviour of adjacent dashes is to turn them into a long dash. There is a similar annoying bug in Confluence (it's some weirdo corporate sort-of-wiki software), where backticks normally result in monospaced text, but if you type a closing backtick and then move to the start of the line and type the opening backtick, it just doesn't work. You get non-monospaced text, with literal backticks in it. To fix it you have to delete both of the backticks, then re-type the opening one, and then re-type the closing one.
- cuddlyogre 3y agoGotta love smart punctuation. Just yesterday, I had to fix a broken page because someone dared store a link tag in a word document, which helpfully and silently converted its quotes into smart quotes for the user. I have a Ruby class that's whole purpose is to undo this kind of help in user provided text, but I missed a spot. Thankfully, I've seen this happen a thousand times, so I knew what was happening. The user didn't though. And trying to explain why her quotes are the wrong kind of quotes would be impossible. I cannot fathom the arrogance that drives the writer of any text processing application to silently replace what the user inputs, especially what they paste, with what they prefer instead. In the case of apple, they'll even delete other parts of the text if you disagree with their choice. It's why I use notepad for almost everything and I avoid excel like the plague.