How do I put accents over letters?

Question

I guess this must be a really simple question to answer, but I use french in correspondence quite alot and I have never figured out how to place accents over certain letters.... how do I do that, then? I feel like a right muppet having to ask!

Answer 1

You have two options:

1) Here is a link to the alt+#### number codes to insert international characters.

http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/international/accents/codealt.html#accent

2) Look for a software program that will run a virtual keyboard for you when you need it, so you can just point an click the character you need.

Answer 2

So, here is Doc Tooth answering.
I wished I had some!
Have read through your answers but there is a simple way.
There should be a facility called key caps or something like that. The choices are many but there are all sorts of accents to you can type.
Also by holding down the alternate key while you type you should get different characters, and more again by holding down alt and shift. You might find you have what you want on the keyboard choice you are using? Try this first.

'Pigs in Space' I'm gone.
My favourite show the Muppets.

Answer 3

Here's what you do: With your Microsoft Word document open, click on "Start" then "Programs" then "Accessories" then "Character Map." When it comes up, select the font you want. Then find the letter with the accent on it, click on it, and select "Copy." Minimize character map, highlight the letter you need to have the accent on in your Word document, and paste it. Usually, the letter is not the same font size as the rest of the word, so you'll have to highlight the entire word and change the font size. After that, run the spell check. You can then add that word and have it default to the spelling with the accent permanently by pulling down the Tools menu and selecting "Auto Correct".

Answer 4

It's different on a mac and on a pc. If you're using windows, the best option is to use a foreign language keyboard setting for French. I use Spanish and Greek, and it's almost as good as having a proper Spanish/Greek keyboard once you get used to it. It'll let you type all the relevant symbols, anyway. Watch, here's Spanish: ¡hola! ¿Cómo estás?

It's way faster and easier than copying and pasting characters, etc., but it does take a little practice.

Answer 5

Go to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Character Map. Select the character you want in the list and use the copy/paste function you see there to copy into your document. Also, in the lower right it tells you the keystroke to use to get that character, for example if it says Alt-0246 you would press and hold Alt, then press then numbers 0246 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.

And presto you have ö!

Answer 6

For the vowels with the accents áéíóú you can hold down the "Alt Gr" key while pressing the vowel. I don't think there's a shortcut like that for the rest.

Answer 7

I don't think you can put the accents you're looking for. I'm italian and I used to have an english keybord!!! What a disaster...I kept using the apostoph but it's not the same! Sorry

If you want that result you need to reset your keybord. From english to french, but you won't see what you're typing because the letters will be misplaced. My brother did it.

Answer 8

If you are typing in word, go to the insert menu, and go to symbol, it will open the symbol map and you can choose there.
You can also create short cuts so that you dont have to go into the map each time.

Answer 9

my teacher taught us that we should hold down ctrl and type in some numbers, or you can go under insert at the top of the screen in the word processor and selcet symbol and choose which accent you want

Answer 10

We had all this earlier today. Look up the question in the search box.