How to Type Spanish Accents in Microsoft Word Easily

Use the right keystrokes to type Spanish accents in Microsoft Word.

If you want to write a business letter or address in Spanish, you need to know how to type special marks or characters on the computer. The same is true if you are a student who needs to write homework or compositions in Spanish. If you use Microsoft Word, you don't have to learn a whole new keyboard configuration. You can use a standard U.S. keyboard and easy keystrokes to type Spanish accents and marks in Microsoft Word.

Instructions

1. Hold down the "Ctrl" key and strike the apostrophe key at the same time. Let them both go, and type the letter you want to have an accent, such as "é." The "Ctrl" plus apostrophe will not type, but an accent will appear over the letter you type next.

2. Hold down the "Ctrl" and "Shift" keys and strike the tilde key to type a tilde. The tilde key is to the left of the exclamation mark. Then type the letter "n" where you want the tilde, and both the "n" and tilde will appear, as in mañana."

3. Hold down the "Ctrl" and "Shift" keys and then strike the semicolon (;) key. Next type the letter where you want the dieresis, and it will appear above that letter, as in "vergüenza."

4. Hold down the "Ctrl," "Alt" and "Shift" keys and then type the question mark to get the upside-down question mark. An upside-down question mark will appear as follows: ¿.

5. Hold down "Ctrl," "Alt" and "Shift" and then type the exclamation point. An upside down exclamation point will appear (¡).

References

• Weber State University; How to Make Spanish Accent Marks on a Computer; Tom Mathews