Accents are critical in Spanish!
Using the Number Pad on PC or Option key on MAC
You do not need to change the language of your document to insert accents this way.
PC: MAKE SURE YOUR NUMBER PAD IS TURNED ON. Hold down the ALT key and then type the 3 digits on the number pad in order (NOT at the same time!) and then release the ALT key.
Click here to see where the number pad is on your keyboard.
Here is a list of Spanish characters with their alt numbers.
á 160 ¿ 168
é 130 ¡ 173
í 161 ª 166
ó 162 º 167
ú 163 Ñ 165
É 144 ñ 164
LAPTOP? You can still insert accents. Click here to view a website to see how to activate the number pad.
MAC: To get accents on the Mac, hold down the Option key, and while holding it down,type the letter e; then release those keys and type the letter that you want
the accent to appear on:
á = Opt + e, then a
é = Opt + e, then e
í = Opt + e, then i
ó = Opt + e, then o
ú = Opt + e, then u
For the ñ, hold down the Option key while you type the n; release and type n again.
ñ = Opt + n, then n
For ¿ = hold down Shift & Option & ?
For ¡ = hold down Option & 1
Still having problems inserting accents?
Check out this website where you click on the icons to produce the accents and then copy and paste.
You do not need to change the language of your document to insert accents this way.
PC: MAKE SURE YOUR NUMBER PAD IS TURNED ON. Hold down the ALT key and then type the 3 digits on the number pad in order (NOT at the same time!) and then release the ALT key.
Click here to see where the number pad is on your keyboard.
Here is a list of Spanish characters with their alt numbers.
á 160 ¿ 168
é 130 ¡ 173
í 161 ª 166
ó 162 º 167
ú 163 Ñ 165
É 144 ñ 164
LAPTOP? You can still insert accents. Click here to view a website to see how to activate the number pad.
MAC: To get accents on the Mac, hold down the Option key, and while holding it down,type the letter e; then release those keys and type the letter that you want
the accent to appear on:
á = Opt + e, then a
é = Opt + e, then e
í = Opt + e, then i
ó = Opt + e, then o
ú = Opt + e, then u
For the ñ, hold down the Option key while you type the n; release and type n again.
ñ = Opt + n, then n
For ¿ = hold down Shift & Option & ?
For ¡ = hold down Option & 1
Still having problems inserting accents?
Check out this website where you click on the icons to produce the accents and then copy and paste.
Using CTRL key to insert accents
1. Make sure that the language is set to Spanish (look at bottom left of Word document to see). To set, click "Review" on menu on top in Word document. Choose "Set Language" and choose "Spanish" (you can do any variety of Spanish..."Spain –Traditional Sort" is fine). When language set in Spanish, also spell checks for you.
2. To insert an accent:
a. Hold down the Ctrl button and then push the apostrophe (’) key. It’s just to the left of the Enter key. Then release both.
b. Nothing will have happened yet.
c. Now push any vowel and it will appear with an accent.
3. To insert a ñ (tilde):
a. Hold down the Ctrl button and the Shift key.
b. Then push the tilde button. It’s just to the left of the number 1 key.
c. Nothing will have happened yet.
d. Release all keys and push the “n” or “N” key. It will appear with the tilde.
4. To insert a “ ¿” or “ ¡” :
a. You don’t need to do anything other than push the “?” or “!” key as usual.
b. Since the language is set to Spanish, it will automatically turn them upside down.
1. Make sure that the language is set to Spanish (look at bottom left of Word document to see). To set, click "Review" on menu on top in Word document. Choose "Set Language" and choose "Spanish" (you can do any variety of Spanish..."Spain –Traditional Sort" is fine). When language set in Spanish, also spell checks for you.
2. To insert an accent:
a. Hold down the Ctrl button and then push the apostrophe (’) key. It’s just to the left of the Enter key. Then release both.
b. Nothing will have happened yet.
c. Now push any vowel and it will appear with an accent.
3. To insert a ñ (tilde):
a. Hold down the Ctrl button and the Shift key.
b. Then push the tilde button. It’s just to the left of the number 1 key.
c. Nothing will have happened yet.
d. Release all keys and push the “n” or “N” key. It will appear with the tilde.
4. To insert a “ ¿” or “ ¡” :
a. You don’t need to do anything other than push the “?” or “!” key as usual.
b. Since the language is set to Spanish, it will automatically turn them upside down.
Note: According to the powers that be at the RAE (Real Academia Española) it is still obligatory to use accents with capital letters. However, it is very common to see unaccentuated capital letters such as Á Ú Í Ó and in certain places such as neon signs where it is difficult to actually do.