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JSON Single Quotes: Why a Valid-Looking Object Fails

November 10, 20263 min read

JSON requires double quotes (") around every key and every text value. {'name':'Owen'} looks like JSON, and is valid in JavaScript or Python, but a JSON parser rejects it. Change the quotes that wrap keys and values to double quotes and it works.

JSON Formatter with the object {'name':'Owen'} in Input JSON and a red JSON Parse Error: Expected property name or '}' in JSON at position 1, line 1 column 2 — The parser stops at the first single quote, column 2.

See the error, then fix it

Paste this into Input JSON:
```
{'name':'Owen'}
```
The JSON Parse Error box says Expected property name or '}' and Line 1, Column 2. Column 2 is the first ': the parser wanted a double-quoted name there.
Replace each quote that wraps a key or a value with ", giving {"name":"Owen"}. The error disappears and Formatted Output shows the object on three lines.

The same error can come from a Python print() of a dictionary or a JavaScript object copied from a console, which use single quotes by default.

An apostrophe inside a value is fine

JSON Formatter accepting { — The apostrophe in Owen's notebook is ordinary text inside double quotes.

Don't replace every ' you see. In {"name":"Owen's notebook"} the double quotes already wrap the text, so the apostrophe inside is just a character. Only change the quotes that mark where a key or value starts and ends.

A double quote inside a value needs a backslash

To put a double quote inside text, write \". For example {"label":"Say \"hello\""} is valid and the formatter shows it unchanged. If you copied JSON out of source code, check the raw text: code often adds its own backslashes, and one extra layer of them makes the JSON invalid.

If it doesn't work

The error moved to a later column: the first quotes are fixed, and the next problem is further along. Repeat until the box disappears.
The whole thing shows up as one long quoted string: if your text is wrapped in extra quotes with backslashes, such as "{\"a\":1}", the formatter treats it as one string and does not expand it. Paste the inner JSON without the outer quotes and backslashes.
Text uses curly quotes (“ ”): these come from word processors and are not JSON quotes. Retype them as straight " quotes.
Many single-quoted lines: a find-and-replace for ' is risky if values contain apostrophes. Check those values afterwards.

Your JSON is checked in your browser and is not uploaded. Open the free JSON Formatter.

jsonsingle quotesjson error

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