How to type symbols and letters with accents

Did you know your keyboard can type more than just the letters you see on the keys? If your keyboard has a Numeric Keypad (a set of numbers on the righthand side), you can type many other kinds of symbols as well as letters with accents.

First, use the “Num Lock” key to switch on the Numeric Keypad (you can tell that it’s on if you’re able to type its numbers).

Then, as an example, to type the é in Archbishop Pérez’s name, first hold down the ALT key. Then using the Numeric Keypad, type the number 130. Then release the ALT key, and the letter should appear.

These are called “Alt Codes,” and they allow you to type many different kinds of accents and symbols. Below is a reference list available of useful Alt Codes:

Symbol	Hold ALT key plus this number:		Symbol	Hold ALT key plus this number:
À	192		à	133
Á	193		á	160
Ã	195		ã	227
Ä	196		ä	132
Â	194		â	131
Æ	198		æ	145
È	200		é	130
É	201		è	138
Ê	202		ê	136
Ë	203		ë	137
Ì	204		ï	139
Í	205		î	140
Î	206		ì	141
Ï	207		í	161
Ö	153		ô	147
Ò	210		ò	149
Ó	211		ó	162
Ô	212		ö	148
Õ	213		õ	245
Ù	217		û	150
Ú	218		ù	151
Û	219		ú	163
Ü	220		ü	129
Ý	221		ÿ	255
Ÿ	159		ý	253
Ñ	165		ñ	164
Ç	199		ç	135
½	189		¿	0191
¼	188		¡	0161
▲	30		÷	246
▼	31		®	0174
►	16		©	0169
◄	17		™	0153
•	7		¢	0162

Microsoft Word

If your keyboard doesn’t have a Numeric Keypad, you can still type accents if you use Microsoft Word, which provides its own shortcuts. To type that same é in Word, hold down the CTRL key and tap the ‘ (apostrophe) key. Then let go of both keys and tap the e key.

Below are the shortcuts that Word provides:

Accent	How to type in Word
é	Hold CTRL key, tap ‘ (apostrophe), then release keys and type the letter
ê	Hold both SHIFT and CTRL keys, tap ^ then release keys and type the letter
è	Hold CTRL key, tap ~ (which is also the ` key), release keys and type the letter
ñ	Hold both SHIFT and CTRL keys, tap ~ then release keys and type the letter
ë	Hold both SHIFT and CTRL keys, tap : then release keys and type the letter

On a Mac

If you’re using a Mac, there are various methods to type accents:

• To type the same é, hold down the OPTION key, tap the e key, then release the keys and tap the e key. (See similar commands below).
• Alternatively, you can open a full list of characters to choose from by holding the COMMAND and CONTROL keys and tapping the SPACEBAR.
• Many modern Mac computers also allow you to simply hold down a key and a pop-up list will appear of available accents for that letter.

Accent	How to type on a Mac
á	Hold down OPTION key and then press “e”, then type the letter you want to accent
à	Hold down OPTION key and then press “`”, then type the letter to accent
â	Hold down OPTION key and then press “i”, then press the letter
ñ	Hold down OPTION key and then press “n”, then type the letter
ö	Hold down OPTION key and then press “u”, then type the letter
ç	Hold down OPTION key and then press “c”
ø	Hold down OPTION key and then press “o”
æ	Hold down OPTION key and then press “ ‘ ”
¿	Hold down OPTION key and SHIFT key and then press “?”
¡	Hold down OPTION key and then press “1”

Smartphones

If you’re using a mobile phone, in most cases you’ll be able to type that same é by holding down the e key and selecting it from a pop-up list. The same goes for other letters with accents.