Add NLP literal quote escapes

docs/releases/unreleased.md

@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ Example:
 - ([#1541](https://github.com/callumalpass/tasknotes/issues/1541)) Added `{{currentNotePath}}` and `{{currentNoteTitle}}` support to the default tasks folder, so normal task creation can place new tasks beside the active note without creating an inline link. Thanks to @ChristianAnyanwu for suggesting this, and to @abbasou and @ttlaylor for the follow-up feedback.
 - ([#648](https://github.com/callumalpass/tasknotes/issues/648), [#1605](https://github.com/callumalpass/tasknotes/issues/1605)) Added clickable links in task-card contexts for note links, markdown links, and web URLs while keeping plain contexts as tag-search buttons. Thanks to @trdischat and @Glint-Eye for suggesting this, and to @renatomen for the follow-up feedback.
 - ([#1482](https://github.com/callumalpass/tasknotes/issues/1482)) Added clickable custom-field links on task cards for wikilinks, markdown links, autolinks, and bare web URLs. Thanks to @ptbosch-figueiredorj for suggesting this, and to @Soleone for the follow-up use case.
+- ([#1475](https://github.com/callumalpass/tasknotes/issues/1475), [#725](https://github.com/callumalpass/tasknotes/issues/725)) Added quote/backtick escapes for NLP input, so literal course codes or date words can stay in task titles without being parsed as estimates or dates. Thanks to @RumiaKitinari and @gavingwebb for suggesting this.
 - ([#1603](https://github.com/callumalpass/tasknotes/issues/1603)) Added Calendar view toggles for hiding completed or skipped recurring task instances while keeping future outstanding instances visible. Thanks to @wandererovertheseaofpiss for suggesting this.
 - ([#1625](https://github.com/callumalpass/tasknotes/issues/1625)) Added `Shift` + `Cmd`/`Ctrl` + `Enter` in the Create Task modal to save the current task and reopen the modal for the next one. Thanks to @tcb678 for suggesting this.
 - ([#1641](https://github.com/callumalpass/tasknotes/issues/1641)) Added support for list-valued property-based Calendar start and end dates, so one note can render multiple property events without extra view settings. Thanks to @jhoogeboom for suggesting this.

docs/settings/features.md

@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ Body template settings let you scaffold newly created tasks with consistent note
 
 NLP settings define how text input is interpreted during task capture. **Enable natural language task input** activates date and metadata parsing, **Default to scheduled** changes ambiguous date handling, **NLP language** selects parsing patterns, and **Status suggestion trigger** controls optional status autocomplete activation.
 
+Wrap text in double quotes, single quotes, or backticks to keep it as literal title text during NLP parsing. For example, `BIO "123H" - HW1` keeps `123H` in the title instead of treating it as a 123-hour estimate, while `Review "Today" notes` keeps `Today` as text instead of parsing it as a date.
+
 ## Pomodoro Timer
 
 Pomodoro settings control interval lengths, long-break cadence, optional auto-start behavior, and end-of-session notifications/sound. **Pomodoro data storage** chooses whether history is kept in plugin data or daily notes.

src/services/NaturalLanguageParser.ts

@@ -49,8 +49,94 @@ export class NaturalLanguageParser extends NaturalLanguageParserCore {
 	}
 
 	parseInput(input: string): ParsedTaskData {
-		const parsed = super.parseInput(input);
-		return this.normalizeUserFieldValues(this.extractLinkedUserFields(input, parsed));
+		const protectedInput = this.protectQuotedLiterals(input);
+		const parsed = super.parseInput(protectedInput.text);
+		const withLinkedFields = this.extractLinkedUserFields(protectedInput.text, parsed);
+		this.restoreQuotedLiterals(withLinkedFields, protectedInput.literals);
+		return this.normalizeUserFieldValues(withLinkedFields);
+	}
+
+	private protectQuotedLiterals(input: string): { text: string; literals: string[] } {
+		const literals: string[] = [];
+		let text = "";
+		let index = 0;
+
+		while (index < input.length) {
+			const char = input[index];
+			if (!this.isQuoteDelimiter(char) || !this.isEligibleQuoteStart(input, index)) {
+				text += char;
+				index += 1;
+				continue;
+			}
+
+			const endIndex = this.findClosingQuote(input, index + 1, char);
+			if (endIndex === -1 || !this.isEligibleQuoteEnd(input, endIndex)) {
+				text += char;
+				index += 1;
+				continue;
+			}
+
+			const literal = input.slice(index + 1, endIndex);
+			if (literal.trim().length === 0) {
+				text += char;
+				index += 1;
+				continue;
+			}
+
+			const placeholder = `__TASKNOTES_LITERAL_${literals.length}__`;
+			literals.push(literal);
+			text += placeholder;
+			index = endIndex + 1;
+		}
+
+		return { text, literals };
+	}
+
+	private restoreQuotedLiterals(parsed: ParsedTaskData, literals: string[]): void {
+		if (literals.length === 0) return;
+
+		let title = parsed.title;
+		literals.forEach((literal, index) => {
+			title = title.replace(`__TASKNOTES_LITERAL_${index}__`, literal);
+		});
+		parsed.title = title.replace(/\s+/g, " ").trim();
+	}
+
+	private isQuoteDelimiter(char: string): boolean {
+		return char === "\"" || char === "'" || char === "`";
+	}
+
+	private isEligibleQuoteStart(input: string, index: number): boolean {
+		const char = input[index];
+		if (char !== "'") return true;
+
+		const previous = index > 0 ? input[index - 1] : "";
+		return !this.isLiteralBoundaryWordCharacter(previous);
+	}
+
+	private isEligibleQuoteEnd(input: string, index: number): boolean {
+		const char = input[index];
+		if (char !== "'") return true;
+
+		const next = index + 1 < input.length ? input[index + 1] : "";
+		return !this.isLiteralBoundaryWordCharacter(next);
+	}
+
+	private findClosingQuote(input: string, startIndex: number, delimiter: string): number {
+		for (let index = startIndex; index < input.length; index += 1) {
+			if (input[index] !== delimiter) continue;
+
+			const previous = index > 0 ? input[index - 1] : "";
+			if (previous === "\\") continue;
+
+			return index;
+		}
+
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	private isLiteralBoundaryWordCharacter(char: string): boolean {
+		return /[\p{L}\p{N}_]/u.test(char);
 	}
 
 	private normalizeUserFieldValues(parsed: ParsedTaskData): ParsedTaskData {

tests/unit/issues/issue-1475-nlp-literal-quotes.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+/**
+ * @see https://github.com/callumalpass/tasknotes/issues/1475
+ * @see https://github.com/callumalpass/tasknotes/issues/725
+ */
+
+import { NaturalLanguageParser } from "../../../src/services/NaturalLanguageParser";
+
+function createParser(): NaturalLanguageParser {
+	return new NaturalLanguageParser([], [], true, "en");
+}
+
+describe("issues #1475 and #725: NLP literal quote escapes", () => {
+	it("keeps quoted course-code hours in the title instead of parsing a time estimate", () => {
+		const result = createParser().parseInput('BIO "123H" - HW1');
+
+		expect(result.title).toBe("BIO 123H - HW1");
+		expect(result.estimate).toBeUndefined();
+	});
+
+	it("keeps quoted date words in the title instead of parsing dates", () => {
+		const result = createParser().parseInput('Something "Today"');
+
+		expect(result.title).toBe("Something Today");
+		expect(result.scheduledDate).toBeUndefined();
+		expect(result.dueDate).toBeUndefined();
+	});
+
+	it("supports backtick and single-quote literal spans", () => {
+		const backtickResult = createParser().parseInput("Read `tomorrow` magazine");
+		const singleQuoteResult = createParser().parseInput("Review 'Today is the Day' book");
+
+		expect(backtickResult.title).toBe("Read tomorrow magazine");
+		expect(backtickResult.scheduledDate).toBeUndefined();
+		expect(singleQuoteResult.title).toBe("Review Today is the Day book");
+		expect(singleQuoteResult.scheduledDate).toBeUndefined();
+	});
+
+	it("still parses unquoted NLP outside literal spans", () => {
+		const result = createParser().parseInput('Review "BIO 123H" tomorrow 2h');
+
+		expect(result.title).toBe("Review BIO 123H");
+		expect(result.scheduledDate).toBeDefined();
+		expect(result.estimate).toBe(120);
+	});
+
+	it("leaves apostrophes in normal words alone", () => {
+		const result = createParser().parseInput("John's task tomorrow");
+
+		expect(result.title).toBe("John's task");
+		expect(result.scheduledDate).toBeDefined();
+	});
+});