OIFS="$IFS" arr=(a b c) recho ${arr[@]@Q} recho "${arr[@]@Q}" IFS="'" recho ${arr[@]@Q} recho "${arr[@]@Q}" IFS="$OIFS" arr=("'a'" "'b'" "'c'") IFS="'" recho ${arr[@]} recho "${arr[@]}" IFS="$OIFS" IFS="'" a="'a'" recho $a recho "$a" IFS="$OIFS" set -- "'a'" "'b'" "'c'" IFS="'" recho "${@}" recho "$@"