To enable a relatively inexpensive constitution to bring about a plurality of pieces of information, for example, on the attitude, carrying position and discrimination of a recording medium, by detecting a mark which is formed on the recording medium for use in a recording apparatus.

When recording paper 5 is fed in a reversed state, a hole 7, which is formed in the recording paper and which is different in length from holes 6a and 6b to be originally detected, can be detected, and it can be detected that the recording paper is in the state of being turned upside down. On the occurrence of an oblique motion, the holes 6a and 6b are partially covered with the recording paper 5, and the oblique motion can be detected by detecting it. The holes 6a and 6b are detected as levels at respective time points along with the movement of the holes 6a and 6b. The discrimination of the recording paper 5 can be performed depending on a time interval between the time points. Additionally, when the hole 7 is detected at the back end of the recording paper 5 before or after anticipated timing, it is determined that an abnormality occurs in the carrying of the recording paper.