title: Java StringBuilder.append doesn't remove escape characters
body: <p>I'm trying to append the literal string <code>"\F\"</code> to a StringBuilder object.  I declare the replacement string as a String variable using the escape characters as such:</p>
  
  <pre><code>String replace = "\\F\\";
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>When I append the variable replace to my StringBuilder object I get escape characters in the resulting string.  For example:</p>
  
  <pre><code>StringBuilder builder = new StringBuilder("This is the string I will be appending to.");
  String replace = "\\F\\";
  builder.append(replace);
  String newString = builder.toString();
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The resulting value of newString is <code>"This is the string I will be appending to.\\F\\"</code>.  I want the value of newString to be <code>"This is the string I will be appending to.\F\"</code>.  </p>
  
  <p>On a side note, when I execute </p>
  
  <pre><code>System.out.println(replace);
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>the system correctly removes the escape characters resulting in <code>"\F\"</code> on the console.</p>
  
  <p>Apologies in advance if this is answered elsewhere.  I searched extensively and didn't find what I was looking for.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.</p>