Browse by base letter or search for a term such as “n with tilde.” You can also enter a character or a Unicode value such as U+00E9. Narrow the results by case or accent type, then select a letter. When copying is confirmed, paste it into the app where you are writing.
02How does the writing pad work?+
Select Build text to insert characters into the writing pad at your cursor. Type the rest of your words as usual, then choose Copy text to copy the whole message. Use Undo to reverse an edit or restore text after clearing it.
On a phone, the pad remains at the bottom of the screen. Tapping a character adds it to the pad and copies that letter. Tap Copy for the whole text or Undo to reverse an edit. The pad does not open your phone keyboard; for a full set of typing keys, use the accent keyboard.
03Find letters with your keyboard+
Focus search with Ctrl + K, or Command + K on Mac. Press Tab to move through the controls and Enter to select a character. For shortcuts in other apps, read the keyboard shortcuts below or browse the accent letter ALT codes.
Accented letters have a mark above, below or through a base letter. Examples include é, ñ and ç. These marks, called diacritics, are part of a word’s spelling. The same mark can serve different purposes in different languages, so choose the character used in the word you are writing.
This library also includes related letters such as ø, æ and ß. Some are separate letters rather than accented versions of an English letter. The guides group them by a familiar base shape to make them easier to find.
If you do not know the mark’s name, compare it with these examples. Check its direction and position as well as its shape.
Mark
Examples
How to recognize it
Acute
á é í ó ú
One stroke above the letter, rising to the right.
Grave
à è ì ò ù
One stroke above, sloping down to the right.
Circumflex
â ê î ô û
A pointed roof above the letter.
Diaeresis or umlaut
ä ë ï ö ü
Two separate dots above a vowel.
Tilde
ã ñ õ
A short, wavy line above the letter.
Cedilla
ç ş
A small attached mark below the letter.
Macron
ā ē ī ō ū
A straight horizontal line above.
Caron
č š ž
A v-shaped mark, unlike the roof of a circumflex.
Breve
ă ğ ŭ
A shallow curve above the letter.
Ring
å ů
A small circle above the letter.
Find accents for the words you write
A name, greeting or place may need a letter that is missing from your current keyboard. Use the original spelling as your reference. These familiar examples can help you locate the right character.
Spanish: á, é, í, ó, ú, ü and ñ
Words such as música, español and pingüino use different marked letters. Copy í, ñ or ü as needed, or switch to Uppercase for Í, Ñ and Ü. The N guide makes it easy to find ñ without confusing its tilde with an acute accent.
French: é, è, ê, ë and ç
Café, crème, fête and français show why the shape of the mark matters. Compare the forms in the E guide and use the C guide for ç. Keep the accents when your text calls for capitals such as É or Ç.
German: ä, ö, ü and ß
For words such as schön and für, look for the vowel with two dots. Choose Ä, Ö or Ü when you need a capital. The S guide includes ß and ẞ, the lowercase and capital forms of sharp S.
Portuguese and other languages
Portuguese words such as não, você and coração use a tilde, circumflex or cedilla. The wider library also includes stroked letters, dots, hooks and combined marks. If your source shows more than one mark on a letter, match the complete form rather than copying a simpler version.
Ways to type accents on your device
Copying is useful for an occasional missing letter. For regular writing, you may prefer a keyboard layout for your language. Shortcuts depend on your operating system and app, so check the result before continuing.
Windows: enter a supported ALT code
Use the ALT code directory to find a shortcut. With Num Lock on, hold Alt, enter the listed digits on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. Keep a leading zero when shown. The top number row does not replace the keypad, and Unicode decimal values are not automatically ALT shortcuts.
Word for Windows: use a Unicode value
Find the hexadecimal value in a letter’s reference table. For example, type 00E9, select those four characters and press Alt + X to create é. This method uses a different kind of code from an ALT keypad shortcut. See Microsoft’s character-code instructions.
Mac: choose from the accent menu
In a supported Mac app, hold a letter key to open its accent choices. Select the character you need. The menu does not contain every form; copy a missing character here or consult Apple’s accent-entry guide for other options.
Phone or tablet: copy or use the online keyboard
Tap a letter in this library, then paste it into your message using your device’s paste control. To build a longer piece of text, open the online accent keyboard. Hold a letter key there to choose an accent, and use Copy text when you finish.
HELP WITH ACCENTED TEXT
Common questions about copying accents
Do I need an account to copy letters?+
No. The character library and accent keyboard are free to use without registration or installation.
How do I find uppercase accents?+
Choose Uppercase above the grid. Select Both to compare capitals and lowercase letters together. Individual letter guides also have separate uppercase sections.
Which way should the accent point?+
Follow the word’s spelling. An acute accent, as in é, rises to the right. A grave accent, as in è, slopes down to the right. They are different marks, so check a reliable spelling reference if you are unsure.
Can I use these letters in a username?+
That depends on the website or app. Many text fields accept accented letters, but some usernames and forms allow only a limited set of characters. Check the destination’s rules if a letter is rejected.
Why do I see a box instead of a letter?+
Your font may not include that character. Try a different font in the destination app. If a letter’s appearance changes after pasting, compare its Unicode value as well as its shape.
What if the copy button does not work?+
The tool offers a manual copy box if automatic copying is unavailable. Select the text and copy it with your keyboard or device’s Copy command, then paste as usual.