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How To Type Italian Language Characters

By Michael San Filippo, About.com

Want to type an accented Italian character such as à, è, é, or ì but don't know how? This simple how-to will show you how to insert accented Italian language characters in documents such as e-mail and online.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 15 minutes

Here's How:

  1. METHOD 1: [PC/Windows OS] Select the Start menu, then select Settings, then select Control Panel.
  2. Next, choose the Keyboard option and click on the Language tab.
  3. Click the button and choose Italian. An icon will appear in the tray field. Toggle between English and Italian keyboards as needed.
  4. METHOD 2: [PC/Windows OS] With the NumLock key on, hold down the ALT key and strike the three- or four-digit code sequence on the keypad for the desired characters.
  5. Release the ALT key and the accented letter will appear. NOTE: Consult the Italian Language Character Chart for the correct numbers.
  6. METHOD 3: [Apple/Mac] Click on the Apple icon on the top left of the screen.
  7. Single-click KeyCaps (a representation of your keyboard will be displayed).
  8. Hold down the Option key. The character produced by pressing each key will be displayed with a distinctive border while holding down the Option key.
  9. Single-click the accent desired. Type the letter to be accented. For example, to type à, press the Option key, click `, type a. The accented character will appear.

Tips:

  1. An upper-pointing accent, as in the character á, is called l’accento acuto.
  2. A downward-pointing accent, as in the character à, is called l’accento grave.

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