Adding accent marks in Microsoft Word is simple once you know the right methods. Whether you’re typing in another language or adding special characters to names and words, Word provides several easy ways to insert accents — through keyboard shortcuts, symbols, or the Character Map.

Method 1: Use Keyboard Shortcuts

The fastest way to add accent marks in Word is by using built-in keyboard shortcuts.
Here’s how it works:

• Acute accent (é) – Press Ctrl + ‘ (apostrophe), then the letter
• Grave accent (è) – Press Ctrl + ` (grave accent), then the letter
• Circumflex (ê) – Press Ctrl + Shift + 6, then the letter
• Tilde (ñ) – Press Ctrl + Shift + ~, then the letter
• Umlaut (ü) – Press Ctrl + Shift + : (colon), then the letter

These shortcuts work on both uppercase and lowercase letters.

Method 2: Insert Symbols Manually

If you prefer not to use shortcuts, you can insert accented letters directly from Word’s Symbol menu:

1. Click the Insert tab at the top of Word.
2. Select Symbol on the far right.
3. Click More Symbols.
4. Choose a font (usually Times New Roman or Arial).
5. Scroll through and select the accented character you need.
6. Click Insert to add it to your document.

Method 3: Use the Character Map (Windows)

You can also insert accented letters through the Windows Character Map tool:

1. Open the Start menu and search for Character Map.
2. Find the accented letter you want.
3. Click Select, then Copy.
4. Return to Word and paste the character where needed.

Common Accent Marks

Conclusion

Adding accent marks in Microsoft Word is quick and straightforward once you know the right method. Use keyboard shortcuts for speed, the Symbol menu for precision, or the Character Map if you need special characters not easily accessible from your keyboard.