I’m working on a project and need to frequently write ‘é’. I use a Windows PC and can’t figure out how to do it quickly. I’ve tried some key combinations, but nothing works. Any tips or shortcuts would be greatly appreciated!
Why on earth are you struggling with such a simple thing? It’s 2023 for crying out loud, and people still can’t figure out how to type special characters? Whatever, here’s what you do:
-
Use the “Alt Code”. Hold down the ‘Alt’ key and type ‘0233’ on the numeric keypad. Seriously, it’s that easy. You need to have a numeric keypad though. If your laptop doesn’t have one, too bad. You can always attach an external keypad, but who wants to carry that around?
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There’s also the more convoluted route by enabling the US International Keyboard. You can set this up in your Control Panel > Change input methods. Yeah, it’s painful if you’re switching languages frequently.
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If you want to get fancy, open the Character Map program. You just have to find it, copy the character, and paste it every single time. Sounds wonderful, right? NOT!
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Shortcut apps and utilities? Meh, just another piece of software clogging your system. Some people like ‘WinCompose’, although it’s pretty much overkill for one letter. Use keyboard shortcuts, globally customizing things can become a nightmare.
You’d think Microsoft could make this easier. Some alternatives like macOS and Linux, they do better on simple stuff like this, not saying they’re any better overall.
Just pick whichever lesser evil suits you.
I see you’ve already got some options laid out by @techchizkid, but allow me to share a bit more on this and add my own perspective. While those methods are valid, each comes with its own set of pros and cons, and some can be more streamlined than others if you want to regularly type ‘é’.
Honestly, @techchizkid, you could be a bit more supportive. Not everyone’s born an IT wizard, okay?
First, a few more efficient ways to type ‘é’ that you could consider:
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AutoCorrect in Microsoft Tools:
If you’re working extensively in Microsoft Word or other Office software, you can set up an AutoCorrect replacement. For example, you could set it to automatically change “e’” to “é”.- Open Microsoft Word.
- Go to ‘File’ > ‘Options’ > ‘Proofing’ > ‘AutoCorrect options…’
- In the ‘Replace’ box, type “e’” and in the ‘With’ box, type “é”.
This way, anytime you type “e’”, it will replace it with “é”. This is probably the smoothest solution if you’re typing a lot in Word.
-
Windows Keyboard Layout Creator:
If you find switching between keyboard layouts cumbersome, you can use the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator to create your personalized layout. It’s a bit advanced but effective if you’ll be typing special characters often.- Download and install Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator.
- Create a new layout based on your current one.
- Assign the key combination you find most intuitive to ‘é’.
Save and apply. From now on, your custom layout can be switched on as needed.
-
Language Bar Shortcut:
For those switching between languages frequently:Enable the US International Keyboard, then use the Language Bar for easy toggling:
- Settings > Time & Language > Language > Add a language (Select English (United States) and then choose the “United States-International” keyboard layout when prompted).
Once set up, use
Win + Space
to switch to the US-International keyboard. To type ‘é’, useRight Alt
(GrAlt) +e
. -
Use Emojis and Symbols Panel:
Newer Windows versions (Windows 10 and later) have a built-in emoji and symbols panel that can be handy:- Press
Win + .
(period) orWin + ;
(semicolon).
This panel pops up and you can find
é
(under the symbol’s section). Click to insert. - Press
-
Alt Gr Key Combination:
A lot easier than the character map, and no need for numeric keypads!- Simply switch to the “United States-International” keyboard layout as mentioned before.
- Hold the right Alt key (sometimes labeled
Alt Gr
) and presse
.
I fully understand that having yet another piece of software might seem cumbersome, but something like WinCompose is more versatile than you might realize. It works across all applications and gives you a consistent experience regardless of the application. Full disclosure, I used to think, “Why bother with yet another install?” But after using WinCompose for a couple of weeks, I found myself typing special characters seamlessly without even thinking.
In response to @techchizkid, who mentioned Character Map being bothersome, let me bring in a pragmatic take on it. The Character Map isn’t as bad as it’s made to seem, especially if it’s used strategically:
-
Quick Access Toolbar:
You can add Character Map to your Quick Access Toolbar in Microsoft Office and keep it handy:- Open Character Map, find your character, and copy it.
- In the future, it becomes a reflex, and for some characters, this gets quite quick.
-
Clipboard Manager:
Use a clipboard manager app to keep a history of your recently copied items. Many managers like ClipboardFusion or Ditto let you assign shortcuts for frequently used phrases and characters. You copy ‘é’ once, and it stays accessible through the shortcut of your choice.
Additionally, Windows Clipboard History (Win + V
) can help somewhat as it retains your last copied items. So long as you keep ‘é’ in the clipboard history, it’s a Win + V
away from pasting quickly.
Each approach depends on your workflow and specific needs, but don’t be disheartened—you’ve got several good pathways to more efficient typing now! Choose what feels comfortable and fits naturally into your typing habits.
Hey @byteguru and @techchizkid, interesting thoughts there on typing ‘é’. Just to throw my two cents into the mix, I think there’s an overlooked method that might be even simpler if you’re not into jumping through hoops.
Use the On-Screen Keyboard:
Yeah, I know it’s usually seen as a tool for accessibility, but seriously give it a shot for typing special characters. Here’s how:
- Press
Win + Ctrl + O
to pop up the On-Screen Keyboard. - Click on the
Options
key on the On-Screen Keyboard. - Check
Turn on numeric keypad
, thenOK
. - Now hold the
Alt
key and type0233
on the on-screen numeric keypad.
This may seem clunky, but it’s a surprisingly good workaround if you find yourself without a physical numeric keypad. At least you don’t need additional software or extensive setup!
Another quick trick that hasn’t been mentioned yet is using Autohotkey for a custom script. It’s a bit more technical, but flexible. Here’s a snippet to get you started:
- Download and install Autohotkey.
- Create a new script file (.ahk) and open it in any text editor.
- Paste the following code in:
; Assign Ctrl+e to produce é
^e::Send, é
- Save the file and double-click it to run it. Now Ctrl+e will give you ‘é’.
This can evolve to suit more needs, like other accented characters or special symbols.
@techchizkid, sure the Alt code way is simple, but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, especially if you’re without a numeric keypad. The US International Keyboard is more fluid once you get the hang of it, but toggling between layouts can indeed be exhausting if you’re only looking to type one special character.
@byteguru, you’re right about AutoCorrect in Word being a no-brainer for regular typing. It’s super practical if Word is your main tool. But switching to other applications, AutoCorrect won’t help, right? That’s why having a more universal approach, like a hotkey script, adds efficiency.
Also, coming from a humorist perspective, @techchizkid, how about we tell Microsoft to add speech-to-character recognition next? Imagine saying “é” and it appears! In this day and age, that might not be too far-fetched!
Pick whichever path aligns with your typing habits. And let’s not get too stressed over one letter!