Fact · Languages and accents
Unicode's bidirectional algorithm says that neutral characters, such as punctuation and spaces, generally take the direction of the surrounding text, and take the embedding direction when the two sides conflict.
Checked against its source on October 17, 2026
In the source's own words
“Generally, NIs take on the direction of the surrounding text. In case of a conflict, they take on the embedding direction.”
Unicode Standard Annex #9: Unicode Bidirectional Algorithm, Unicode Consortium, Unicode Consortium, 2026, Rule N1 and N2 (neutral types).
Open the original- What it measures
- NIs are the neutral and isolate characters that the algorithm resolves in the last stage. When the characters on either side point in different directions, the neutral takes the paragraph's direction, which is why punctuation can end up on the wrong side of a dictated phrase.
- What it does not show
- Describes the standard's rule. How a given app displays the result depends on its text engine.