Today’s tutorial explains how to insert accent marks, also called diacritical marks, in Microsoft Word. First, we will look at how to insert accent marks using Word’s interface on a PC. Then, we will insert accent marks using keyboard shortcuts on a PC. Lastly, we will look at how to insert accent marks in Word for Mac. (Spoiler alert: It’s easier on a Mac.)
All the steps listed here are demonstrated in real-time on my YouTube channel:
Table of Contents
- How to Insert Accent Marks Using Word’s Interface (PC only)
- How to Insert Accent Marks Using Keyboard Shortcuts (PC only)
- How to Insert Accent Marks in Word for Mac
Important Note: Accent marks are part of font files, so the font you are using in Word determines which accent marks are available to you.
The standard fonts that come with Word include a wide variety of accent marks. However, decorative fonts and third-party fonts typically offer fewer options.
These steps apply to Word for Microsoft 365, Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac (a.k.a., Word for Mac), Word 2024, Word 2021, Word 2019, and Word 2016. These steps don’t apply to Word for the web or Word for mobile.
How to Insert Accent Marks Using Word’s Interface (PC only)
- Place your cursor where the accented letter should appear in your text.
Alternatively, place your cursor to the right of an existing letter that should receive an accent mark.
- Select the Insert tab in the ribbon.
- Select Symbol in the Symbols group.
- Select More Symbols in the Symbol drop-down menu.
- Select the Symbols tab in the Symbol dialog box.
- Ensure that normal text is selected in the Font drop-down menu so that the accent matches your current font.
- Select an option from the Subset drop-down menu:
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- Latin Extended-A, Latin Extended-B, and Latin Extended Additional offer commonly accented letters.
- Combining Diacritical Marks offers accent marks that will combine with an existing letter in your document (if you placed your cursor to the right of the letter).
- Latin-1 Supplement and Spacing Modifier Letters offer individual accent marks that won’t combine with existing letters.
- Select the required accented letter or accent.
- Select the Insert button.
- Select the Close button to close the Symbol dialog box.
The accented letter or accent mark should now appear in your text.
How to Insert Accent Marks Using Keyboard Shortcuts (PC only)
Several common accent marks can be inserted with keyboard shortcuts.
- Place your cursor where the accented letter should appear in your text.
- Press the keyboard shortcut and then immediately type the letter to which the accent should be attached:
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- Grave Accent (à): CTRL+`(Accent Grave)
- Acute Accent (á): CTRL+‘ (Apostrophe)
- Circumflex (â): CTRL+SHIFT+^ (Caret)
- Diaeresis or Umlaut (ä): CTRL+SHIFT+: (Colon)
- Tilde (ã): CTRL+SHIFT+~ (Tilde)
For a full list of the available keyboard shortcuts for accent marks, please see the Microsoft support website.
Many accent marks can also be inserted with Unicode and ANSI character codes. However, this tutorial focuses on the interface and keyboard shortcuts because I believe they are the most convenient methods for most Word users.
How to Insert Accent Marks in Word for Mac
- Press and hold the letter on your keyboard.
- Select an option from the Accent menu that will appear above the letter. (If the Accent menu doesn’t appear, that letter doesn’t have any accent options.)