diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 87cbe2c2..58fbdf18 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+  - add 'nonstd' to escape modifier for escaping non-std chars,
+    such as ms doc quote (Monte)
   - adjusted textformat to not output wrap chars after last para
     (Monte)
   - use tempnam() instead of unqid() to create better temporary files in
diff --git a/libs/plugins/modifier.escape.php b/libs/plugins/modifier.escape.php
index 1f441688..855b1d14 100644
--- a/libs/plugins/modifier.escape.php
+++ b/libs/plugins/modifier.escape.php
@@ -62,7 +62,22 @@ function smarty_modifier_escape($string, $esc_type = 'html')
             
         case 'mail':
             // safe way to display e-mail address on a web page
-            return str_replace(array('@', '.'),array(' [AT] ', ' [DOT] '),$string);
+            return str_replace(array('@', '.'),array(' [AT] ', ' [DOT] '), $string);
+            
+        case 'nonstd':
+           // escape non-standard chars, such as ms document quotes
+           $_res = '';
+           for($_i = 0, $_len = strlen($string); $_i < $_len; $_i++) {
+               $_ord = ord($string{$_i});
+               // non-standard char, escape it
+               if($_ord >= 126){
+                   $_res .= '&#' . $_ord . ';';
+               }
+               else {
+                   $_res .= $string{$_i};
+               }
+           }
+           return $_res;
 
         default:
             return $string;