But it's better to use parameters rather than literal values.
Instead of
insert into xx values('o''neil');
it's better and safer to
insert into xx values($LastName);
No escapement necessary and no chance of SQL injection vulnerabilities.
In Vortex you should assign the value to a variable first, then use it as a parameter so there are no escapement issues in the SQL (and no SQL injection problems):
<$insertVal = "I don't know">
<sql novars "insert into myTable values($insertVal)">
</sql>
In tsql (command line), where you cannot use parameters, you can escape the apostrophe with another:
tsql "insert into myTable values('I don''t know')"
Using parameters in Vortex is safer because it protects not only against apostrophes, but any other character that is SQL syntax.