On a PC, if you have a keyboard with a number pad to the right (see below for help with PC laptops)

1. First, make sure that the "Num Lock" key is selected (a light should come on at the top right of the keyboard to indicate that it is on)
2. Once "Num Lock" is on, you can insert special characters using the ALT key and various codes on the right number pad. For each special character, you hold down the ALT key and then key in the 3-digit code. You must use the right number pad to key in the code; this is why this system doesn't work with laptops.
3. The codes for the most common Spanish characters are:

   alt+130 = é	alt+160 = á	alt+161 = í	alt+162 = ó	alt+163 = ú
   alt+164 = ñ	alt+165 = Ñ	alt+168 = ¿	alt+173 = ¡	alt+129 = ü

4. Using these codes, you can insert these special characters into blog entries and emails as well as in word processing programs. Note that typing alt plus these codes inserts the entire character; you don't have to type the letter separately.

On a Mac (this should work for both desktops & laptops)

1. This system uses the ALT/OPTION key on the Mac keyboard (between the Control & Apple keys).
2. To add an accent over a letter, press the alt/option key and then the "e" key on the regular keyboard, and then the letter you want the accent to fall on. To write í, for example, you would press alt/option, then e, then i.
3. To add a tilde (~) over a letter, press the alt/option key and then the "n" key on the regular keyboard, and then the letter you want the tilde to fall on. To write ñ, you would press alt/option, then n, then n again.

3. On a PC laptop (coming soon!)