[texhax] TeX Queries (2)

[Barbara Beeton]

regarding multiple quotes,

On Fri, 13 Jul 2012, Reinhard Kotucha wrote:

    I vaguely remember that double quotes are ligatures in TeX.  This
    could probably explain why both examples yield different results. 

for the computer modern fonts, double quotes
are definitely ligatures.  so two quotes in
a row (either leading or trailing) will
produce a "designed" double quote.  thus,
if three quotes are input together as ```,
tex (using computer modern) will interpret
the first two as a double, and only one
remains.  thus, if a single quote is to be
first, it has to be isolated in braces.

i can't speak for fonts that don't have tfm
files; presumably any font for which a tfm
file has been created will have been adjusted,
if necessary, to follow the tex conventions.
but i'm sure it can't be guaranteed for
"system" fonts as used by xetex or luatex.
						-- bb