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(elisp)Syntax for Strings

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Syntax for Strings
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   The read syntax for strings is a double-quote, an arbitrary number of
characters, and another double-quote, `"like this"'.  To include a
double-quote in a string, precede it with a backslash; thus, `"\""' is
a string containing just a single double-quote character.  Likewise,
you can include a backslash by preceding it with another backslash, like
this: `"this \\ is a single embedded backslash"'.

   The newline character is not special in the read syntax for strings;
if you write a new line between the double-quotes, it becomes a
character in the string.  But an escaped newline--one that is preceded
by `\'--does not become part of the string; i.e., the Lisp reader
ignores an escaped newline while reading a string.  An escaped space
`\ ' is likewise ignored.

     "It is useful to include newlines
     in documentation strings,
     but the newline is \
     ignored if escaped."
          => "It is useful to include newlines
     in documentation strings,
     but the newline is ignored if escaped."