punctuation - Which is the correct 'apostrophe' to use when typing? ' (quote) or ` (backtick)

A recent discussion came up in GameDev that suggests that when you are using apostrope for abbreviations, that the correct apostrophe to use when typing is the backtick. On US Keyboards below the escape-key — left of the 1 key)

Questions about the difference between the single-quote, and the apostrophe have come up before, but they do not address whether the apostrophe should be typed as if it is a single-quote, or it should be typed as a backtick.

Which of the following are (more) correct:

Itˋs common sense that a student darenˋt interrupt its professor!

or

It’s common sense that a student daren’t interrupt its professor!

Answer

A backtick would be my last recommendation. A straight single-quote is acceptable, and a curly close quote can be substituted as an improvement. In other words, of these three:

• It`s common sense. . . .


• It's common sense. . . .



• It’s common sense. . . .

I would avoid the first, accept the second, and consider the third to be superior to the other two.

One website says the backtick:

shouldn't be used in place of the opening single quote, or for any other discernible typographic purpose

and goes on to say that the closing single quote is:

the preferred character to use as an apostrophe, as in I’m coming, or He’s with me.

It also mentions that the ASCII apostrophe:

shouldn't really ever be used in proper typography, but is often used because it's easy to type and well supported.