How to Add Accents in Word Using the Menu Bar
It’s easy to add accents in Word using the menu bar. Here’s how to do it in Word 2016, which comes with a Microsoft 365 subscription. If you have an older version of Word, that’s fine too; the process is similar for Word 2013, Word 2010, and Word 2007.
How to Add Accents in Word Using Keyboard Shortcuts
Of course, using the menu isn’t the only way to add accents in Word. Some people prefer the convenience of a handy keyboard shortcut. Here’s how to put an accent over a letter using a keyboard shortcut. Microsoft Word allows you to use keyboard shortcuts you create accents as you’re typing, which is often a lot faster than digging into the menu.
If you need to call up the “á” character featuring an acute accent, for example, all you need to do is press Ctrl+’ (apostrophe), lift your fingers from the keys, then quickly press the A key. You can do the same thing to create an “ù,” too; press Ctrl+’ (apostrophe), release your fingers, then quickly press the U key.To flip it around and create an accent grave on a character, say for the letter “é,” all you have to do is press Ctrl+`(accent grave). The same process is repeatable for any letter you need. To add an accent to an uppercase letter, just enable caps lock on your keyboard before using the shortcut.
Once you’ve gotten the knack for this, you’ll realize these shortcuts follow a pattern and you can easily adapt them on the fly to create the accent you want. Microsoft has a handy table showing some of the most commonly used keyboard shortcuts.
How to Add Accents in Word on a Mac
If you’re using a Mac, you have a very straightforward option for creating accents using the keyboard. Now that you know how to add accents in Word, you’ll be über talented at including them anytime you like.
