Check Out These Easy Ways to Insert A with an Accent in Google Docs (with Shortcuts)

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated August 31, 2024

Applies to: Google Docs® (Windows or Mac)

You can insert or type a with an accent mark in Google Docs in several ways. You can use built-in tools, online tools, add-ons or keyboard shortcuts (including Alt code shortcuts). The letter a can be inserted with an accent in both upper or lower case. The following are common accented characters that you can insert or type in Google Docs in upper or lower case: grave (À or à), acute (Á or á), circumflex ( or â) and umlaut (Ä or ä).

Contents

In this article, we'll review 6 ways to insert a with an accent in Google Docs:

  1. Use the Insert special character dialog box
  2. Use an Alt code shortcut by pressing Alt and then typing a number sequence (Windows)
  3. Use the context menu (Mac)
  4. Use the Windows Character Map
  5. Use the Easy Accents Google Docs add-on
  6. Use Google Input Tools to copy letters with accent marks

Note: We are using a desktop / laptop, the online version of Google Docs and a US keyboard layout but the strategies and shortcuts apply to English Canada keyboards. Keyboard shortcuts may work differently depending on your keyboard layout / language.

First, you will need to log in to your Google Drive account and then open the Google Docs file in which you want to insert the a with the accent.

Recommended article: How to Insert or Type the Degree Symbol in Google Docs (4 Ways to Insert °)

1. Use the Insert special character dialog box to insert a with an accent

To insert a with an accent mark using the Insert special character dialog box:

  1. Position the cursor in the Google Docs file where you want to insert the letter a with an accent mark.
  2. Select Insert in the menu and then Special characters. A dialog box appears.
  3. Type u in the Search box or draw it with its accent in the drawing area below below Search. You can point to the accented letters that appear on the left to view larger versions.
  4. Click the letter you want to insert it into the document.
  5. Click Close (X).

The Insert special character dialog box appears as follows (with a entered in the Search box):

Insert Special Characters dialog box to insert a with accent in Google Docs.

2. Use an Alt code keyboard shortcut (Windows) to insert a with an accent mark

If you are using a Windows desktop or laptop, you can press the Alt key in combination with numbers on the numeric keypad to insert the letter a with an accent mark.

Press the following to insert common accent marks with the letter a:

  • Alt + 0193 to enter upper case A with an acute accent (Á)
  • Alt + 0225 to enter lower case a with an acute accent (á)
  • Alt + 0192 to enter upper case A with a grave accent (À)
  • Alt + 0224 to enter lower case a with a grave accent (à)
  • Alt + 0194 to enter upper case A with a circumflex accent (Â)
  • Alt + 0226 to enter lower case a with a circumflex accent (â)
  • Alt + 0196 to enter upper case A with an umlaut accent (Ä)
  • Alt + 0228 to enter lower case a with an umlaut accent (ä)

If you don't have a numeric keypad, you may be able to press the Fn key and access the numbers at the top of your keyboard.

3. Use the context menu (Mac) to insert a with an accent

If you're a Mac user, you can press and hold the letter a (keep the key down), a context menu will appear where you can select the accented letter you want.

To insert a with an accent mark using the context menu:

  1. Position the cursor where you want to insert the letter a with an accent.
  2. Press and hold the letter a on your keyboard. A context menu appears.
  3. Click the accented letter a you want to insert.

4. Use the Windows Character Map to insert a with an accent mark

If you are working on a Windows PC, you can also use the Windows Character Map to insert an a with an accent.

To insert an a with an accent using Windows Character Map:

  1. Click Start on the bottom left of the Windows task bar.
  2. Insert the Search box, type Character Map and press Enter.
  3. Click the a with the accent you want and click Select.
  4. Click Copy.
  5. If necessary, open the Google Docs file and click where you want to insert the e with the accent.
  6. Right-click and select Paste from the drop-down menu. You can also press Ctrl + V (Windows) or ⌘ + V (Mac).

The Windows Character Map appears as follows:

Windows Character map to insert a with accent in Google Docs.

5. Use the Easy Accents Google Docs add-on to insert a with an accent

If you insert accents regularly, you may want to install the Easy Accents add-on. You will need to install it and accept the terms / permissions (if you're comfortable with the permissions). Easy Accents is free with a premium option if you want to set a default language.

To install the Easy Accents add-on:

  1. Open a Google Docs file.
  2. Select the Extensions menu and then Add-ons.
  3. From the sub-menu, select Get add-ons. The Google Marketplace dialog box appears.
  4. In the Search box, type Easy Accents.
  5. Click Easy Accents – Docs.
  6. Click Install.
  7. If necessary, select an account.
  8. Click Continue.
  9. Read the terms and if you agree, click Allow.
  10. Click Done.

To use the Easy Accents add-on to insert an a with an accent:

  1. Position the cursor in the Google Docs file where you want to insert the a with an accent.
  2. Click Extensions in the menu and select Easy Accents – Docs.
  3. Select Easy Accents – Start from the sub-menu. A panel appears on the right.
  4. Select the language you want (such as French). To switch languages later, click the drop-down menu at the bottom of the panel.
  5. Click the desired lowercase letter a with the accent in the panel to insert it into the document. Press Shift and click a letter to insert uppercase letters with an accent.

The Easy Accents panel (below) displays accented characters for the specified language:

Easy Accents panel to insert a with accent in Google Docs.

6. Use Google Input Tools to copy letters with accent marks

Google Input Tools is a web site that provides free access to accented characters, words, phrases or paragraphs that you can copy into your document. It is useful with common words with accents as it can recommend accents based on the typed word.

To use Google Input Tools:

  1. Open a window or tab in your browser and go to Google Input Tools web page.
  2. Select a language on the top left of the web page.
  3. Type the letter or word you want (such as resume).
  4. Click the desired option that appears in the drop-down menu.
  5. Select the letter or word, right-click and choose Copy.
  6. Go to the Google Docs file and click where you want to insert the a with the accent or word with accented characters.
  7. Right-click and select Paste from the drop-down menu. You can also press Ctrl + V (Windows) or ⌘ + V (Mac).

Google Input Tools is also available as an extension for Google Chrome (free).

Google Input Tools appears as follows (with text to select and copy):

Google Input Tools to insert a with accent in Google Docs.

Summary and Recommendations

If you are not typing accents often, the Insert special characters method is simple and you won't need to remember any shortcuts.

You can also copy and paste accented characters from this page into your Google Docs file or create a Google Docs file with the accented characters and copy and paste them to other documents when you need them.

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More resources

How to Do a Hanging Indent in Google Docs

How to Change Margins in Google Docs (2 Ways)

How to Insert or Type E with an Accent Mark in Google Docs

How to Insert or Type U with an Accent Mark in Google Docs

How to Insert or Type O with an Accent Mark in Google Docs

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Summary
How to Insert or Type A with an Accent Mark in Google Docs (À, Á, Â, Ä, à, á, â, or ä) – 6 Ways
Article Name
How to Insert or Type A with an Accent Mark in Google Docs (À, Á, Â, Ä, à, á, â, or ä) – 6 Ways
Description
You can insert or type a with an accent mark in Google Docs in several ways. You can use built-in tools, online tools, add-ons or keyboard shortcuts (including Alt code shortcuts). The following are common accented characters that you can insert or type in Google Docs in upper or lower case: grave (À or à), acute (Á or á), circumflex ( or â) and umlaut (Ä or ä).
Author
Publisher Name
Avantix Learning

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