single quote and double quote

[Tap222]

What is difference between single quotation marks and double quotation marks?

[Kurt_Bremser]

Single quotes prevent the resolution of macro triggers (& and %) in the enclosed text.

Exception: when single quotes are embedded within double quotes:

%let test=xxx;

data test;
test1 = "'&test'";
run;

[ballardw]

Also the use of single quotes around a character literal also allows placing a single (or odd number of) double quote into the value such as the use of " for inch measurements:  '5.3"'  <= that is "  followed with ' and vice versa "John's car". While possible to do with just one quote style the alternate 'John''s car'  <= the '' is two single quotes, isn't quite as obvious in some situations and can be difficult to deal with for multiple single quotes needed within a single string.