How can I convert 'Hello' into this printed output: "'Hello'"

Question

How can I convert time_1 into time_2?

>>> time_1 = '2019-01-01T00:00:00-06:00'
>>> time_2 = ???
>>> print(time_2)
"'2019-01-01T00:00:00-06:00'"

I have tried the following, but it gives the wrong output:

>>> time_1 = '2019-01-01T00:00:00-06:00'
>>> time_2 = "'" + time_1 + "'"
>>> print(time_2)
'2019-01-01T00:00:00-06:00'

Which is how time_1 looks like, not how time_2 should look like.

I know that when I go to print time_2, its output looks like time_1, but that's the point of this question - I want the printed output to look like time_2.

You know that the outer quote pair, in each case, is not part of the actual string value, yes? — jarmod, Aug 05 '21 at 17:43
you aren't putting *double quotes around `time_q`*, you are putting *single quotes around `time_1` to get to `time_2`*. I.e. ``time_2 = f"'{time_1}'"`` — juanpa.arrivillaga, Aug 05 '21 at 17:45
"But, it gives this output: `'2019-01-01T00:00:00-06:00'`". So, exactly the same as what yours gives. — Kelly Bundy, Aug 05 '21 at 17:57
[Exact same output](https://tio.run/##K6gsycjPM7YoKPr/vyQzNzXe0FZB3cjA0FLXwBCIQgwMrMBI18AMSKpzgdUY2Soo4VGkxFVQlJlXogFRq8nFRbzBCiCTlRS0FSBagAwldOP@/wcA). — Kelly Bundy, Aug 05 '21 at 17:59
I'm confused? I was agreeing with you-- it outputs the same thing as time_1. But, I want it to output time_2 — carsof, Aug 05 '21 at 18:00
It *is* the same as your time_2, *not* the same as your time_1. — Kelly Bundy, Aug 05 '21 at 18:01
"But, it gives this output:" Yes; *that is the correct output*. Just like how when you `print(time_1)`, it shows you `2019-01-01T00:00:00-06:00`, and **not** `'2019-01-01T00:00:00-06:00'`, and that, too is the correct output. You must make sure you understand the difference between objects in themselves, and representations of those outputs. — Karl Knechtel, Aug 05 '21 at 18:02
Does this answer your question? [Why are some Python strings are printed with quotes and some are printed without quotes?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/17171889/why-are-some-python-strings-are-printed-with-quotes-and-some-are-printed-without) — mkrieger1, Aug 05 '21 at 18:02
I guess what I'm trying to ask in this thread is that I want the printed output to LOOK like time_2-- I know if I were to print time_2 it'd give me just the single quotes. But, I want it to look like time_2 when it's printed — carsof, Aug 05 '21 at 18:03
If you want it to look like that when printed you need to add single quotes *and* double quotes. — mkrieger1, Aug 05 '21 at 18:04
Right-- and that's where I'm not sure how to do that. I guess I need to read up on what single and double quotes mean because apparently I have the wrong definition — carsof, Aug 05 '21 at 18:06
No, you have the right definition of single and double quotes: single quotes are `'` and double quotes are `"`. It's just that in your code you added *only* single quotes, and now you need to add double quotes on top of that. `'"' + string_with_single_quotes + '"'`. To represent either of the two quotes in Python, you have to quote it, too. — mkrieger1, Aug 05 '21 at 18:08
Okay I just combined your answer + someone else's answer and figured out the solution. Thanks — carsof, Aug 05 '21 at 18:12
@KellyBundy hopefully my update clarifies why I said the output was not equal to time_2 — carsof, Aug 05 '21 at 18:15

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 05 '21 at 17:45

2

Your title says "How to put double quotes around a string with single quotes?"

However, your example suggests that you want to put single quotes around a string.

If you just wanted to wrap a string with single quotes then do so as if they were any other normal string.

time_2 = "'" + time_1 + "'"

answered Aug 05 '21 at 17:45

A Kareem

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Or more succinctly, `f"'{time_1}'"`. – juanpa.arrivillaga Aug 05 '21 at 17:46
" = double quotes right? So I wanted to put " around ' (double quotes around single quotes) – carsof Aug 05 '21 at 17:48
@juanpa.arrivillaga `repr(time_1)` is a further char shorter. – Kelly Bundy Aug 05 '21 at 17:49
@KellyBundy yeaaaa but I just wouldn't trust that. You are relying on implementation details of `repr`. At least, if you could find some guarantee in the documentation, then maybe – juanpa.arrivillaga Aug 05 '21 at 17:49
I just tried what you recommended but the output for time_2 ='2019-01-01T00:00:00-06:00' , which only has single quotes (missing the double quotes) – carsof Aug 05 '21 at 17:51
@carsof the `time_2` you provided **doesn't have double quotes**. This is *very important and basic to understand about strings* – juanpa.arrivillaga Aug 05 '21 at 17:52
Okay, didn't realize that " is not a double quote. But, again, the solution you posted doesn't convert the answer to how time_2 looks – carsof Aug 05 '21 at 17:54
Just updated the answer to show the output of the solution provided- not what I'm looking for – carsof Aug 05 '21 at 17:56
"So I wanted to put " around ' (double quotes around single quotes)" **there aren't single quotes in your original string to begin with**. "Okay, didn't realize that " is not a double quote. " It **is** a double quote. The quote marks that you see on either end of a string **in your code** are **not part of the string**. Just like how if you use a `\` character to escape something, that backslash is not part of your string. – Karl Knechtel Aug 05 '21 at 18:03
Yes, I understand I have the wrong terminology when it comes to double/single quotes- my bad. – carsof Aug 05 '21 at 18:04

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Aug 05 '21 at 18:16

0

I don't think anyone here understood what I was trying to do, but I combined a few of the suggested solutions together and got the output I was looking for:

time_1= '2019-01-01T00:00:00-06:00'
time_2 = '"' + "'"+ time_1 + "'"+ '"'
print(time_2)

Now, the output is:

"'2019-01-01T00:00:00-06:00'"

Which is what I wanted.

edited Aug 05 '21 at 18:16

mkrieger1

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answered Aug 05 '21 at 18:16

carsof

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How can I convert 'Hello' into this printed output: "'Hello'"

2 Answers2