from cStringIO import StringIO import csv csvdata = '''"First Column","Second Column","Third Column" "String Data","String Data, With ""Quoted Text"", in it",07/30/09 03:23 PM "String, Data 2","Jim ""The Judge"" Wilson",07/30/09 03:23 PM ''' io = StringIO(csvdata) sniff = csv.Sniffer() dial = sniff.sniff(io.read()) io.seek(0) reader = csv.reader(io, dialect=dial) for record in reader: for field in record: print "Field: %s " % field print "\n" dial.doublequote = True io.seek(0) reader = csv.reader(io, dialect=dial) for record in reader: for field in record: print "Field: %s " % field print "\n"