FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.8.0_121"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_121-b13)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.121-b13, mixed mode)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Linux den00blt 3.8.13-44.1.1.el6uek.x86_64 #2 SMP Wed Sep 10 06:10:25 PDT 2014 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
When creating a MessageFormat using the constructor MessageFormat(String pattern, Locale locale), if the pattern has a single non escaped characters like ' (apostrophe) prior to a placeholder {0} in the pattern, the placeholders are not replaced by calling the messageFormat.format(Object[], StringBuffer, null). But if the non escaped character is after the placeholder, the placeholder would be replaced.

Example:

Couldn't play game : {0} --> {0} here would not be replaced with actual content
whereas
Playing {0} wasn't possible -> {0} here would be properly replaced with actual content.



STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
MessageFormat mf = new MessageFormat(pattern, locale);
mf.format(args, new StringBuffer(1000), null)

use pattern = Couldn't play game : {0}
locale = en
args[0] = "Mario"



EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
The placeholder {0} would not be replaced by string "mario"
Couldn't play game : mario
ACTUAL -
Couldn't play game : {0}

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
public static void main(String args[]) {
        MessageFormat mf = new MessageFormat("Couldn't play game : {0}", Locale.ENGLISH);
        String[] ar = new String[1];
        ar[0] = "mario";
        System.out.print("Final string " + mf.format(ar, new StringBuffer(1000), null).toString());
    }
---------- END SOURCE ----------