# AttValue: " or ' expected

Source: https://xmlvalid.com/errors/attvalue-quote-expected

> An attribute value is not in quotes.

Example message: `AttValue: " or ' expected`

## Why it happens

- Unquoted values, allowed in HTML but not in XML: `qty=2`.
- Curly “smart” quotes pasted from a word processor instead of straight ones.

## How to fix it

- Put every attribute value in straight double or single quotes. The two follow-up messages, *attributes construct error* and *Couldn't find end of Start Tag*, come from the same mistake and go away with it.

## Example that fails

```xml
<item qty=2/>
```

## Fixed

```xml
<item qty="2"/>
```