* Keymap quirks (http://people.freedesktop.org/~hughsient/quirk/quirk-keymap-index.html) == Customizing Keyboard Compose Key Settings == The USA International keyboard layout is helpful for people who wish to use a USA keyboard with US English, but need to type in another language. However, since this is a general purpose layout, it doesn't include all key symbols that a given language needs, and it includes other symbols you probably don't want. There's a few ways to configure around this problem: - Use a keyboard map that supports compose sequences but doesn't use deadkeys by default - e.g., USA Alternative international (former us_intl) or USA International (AltGr dead keys). - Enable multiple keyboard layouts for the different use cases using the System -> Preferences -> Keyboard -> Layouts list and switch between them, using the GNOME keyboard applet or a layout-switching hotkey. - override the standard compose map by creating a .XCompose file in your home directory, changing the maps that you want to be have differently. e.g.: {{{ : "'l" : "'L" : "'m" }}} Otherwise, get used to typing a space after every ' if you want it to be rendered as an apostrophe, since this is what the use of "dead keys" implies. ;-)