Students in Spanish must learn how to type the appropriate accents when they write compositions. Not only can a missing accent (also known as a tilde) confuse or change the meaning of a word, every language has its own orthography and the serious student of foreign languages has an obligation to learn them. (Would you write English papers without apostrophes, for example?) Here's how:
Consult the users manual of your word processing software for instructions on typing accented characters. If you are having difficulties, the following key combinations may work:
For Macintosh:
Press "e" and "Option" simultaneously, then
type a = á
Press "e" and "Option" simultaneously, then
type e = é
Press "e" and "Option" simultaneously, then
type i = í
Press "e" and "Option" simultaneously, then
type o = ó
Press "e" and "Option" simultaneously, then
type u = ú
Press "n" and "Option" simultaneously, then
type n = ñ
Press "e" and "Option" simultaneously, then
type "Shift" + A = Á
Press "e" and "Option" simultaneously, then
type "Shift" + E = É
Press "e" and "Option" simultaneously, then
type "Shift" + I = Í
Press "e" and "Option" simultaneously, then
type "Shift" + O = Ó
Press "e" and "Option" simultaneously, then
type "Shift" + U = Ú
Press "n" and "Option" simultaneously, then
type "Shift" + N = Ñ
Press "¡" and "Option" simultaneously
= ¡
Press "?" and "Option" and "Shift" simultaneously
= ¿
For Windows (Note: You need to use the numbers on the right-hand side of the keyboard, with Number Lock on):
"Alt" key + 0193 = Á
"Alt" key + 0201 = É
"Alt" key + 0211 = Ó
"Alt" key + 0205 = Í
"Alt" key + 0218 = Ú
"Alt" key + 0191 = ¿
"Alt" key + 0161 = ¡
"Alt" key + 0225 = á
"Alt" key + 0233 = é
"Alt" key + 0243 = ó
"Alt" key + 0237 = í
"Alt" key + 0250 = ú
"Alt" key + 0252 = ü
"Alt" key + 0241 = ñ
"Alt" key + 0209 = Ñ
On some PCs with Windows, you may also type "Ctrl" key + ' (apostrophe) to get the letters with the rising accent.
¡Buena suerte!