Accents in LaTeX

In text put the accent command before the letter: \'{e} gives é, \"{u} gives ü, \~{n} gives ñ. In math mode use the math accents instead: \hat{x}, \bar{x}, \tilde{x}, \dot{x}, \vec{v}. With current LaTeX you can also type é and ü directly in text.

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Math accents

\hat{x}
$\hat{x}$
Hat (estimator, unit vector).
\bar{x}
$\bar{x}$
Bar (mean, conjugate).
\tilde{x}
$\tilde{x}$
Tilde (approximation, transform).
\dot{x}\ \ddot{x}
$\dot{x} \ddot{x}$
Dots (time derivatives).
\vec{v}
$\vec{v}$
Arrow (vector).
\acute{a}\ \grave{a}\ \breve{a}\ \check{a}\ \mathring{a}
$\overset{´}{a} \overset{`}{a} \overset{˘}{a} \overset{ˇ}{a} \overset{˚}{a}$
Acute, grave, breve, caron and ring in math.
\widehat{AB}\ \widetilde{AB}
$\hat{A B} \tilde{A B}$
Wide versions that stretch over several letters.

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LaTeX

Templates

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Accents (é, ü, x̂) examples

Each result below is drawn from the LaTeX under it. Copy the code, edit it on this page, or open it in the full editor.

Estimator
$\hat{θ} = \bar{x}$
LaTeX
```
\hat{\theta} = \bar{x}
```
Edit here Open in editor
Time derivatives
$F = m \ddot{x}, v = \dot{x}$
LaTeX
```
F = m\ddot{x}, \quad v = \dot{x}
```
Edit here Open in editor
Wide hat
$\hat{A B C} = 90^{\circ}$
LaTeX
```
\widehat{ABC} = 90^\circ
```
Edit here Open in editor
Dotless i under an accent
$\hat{ı}, \hat{ȷ}, \hat{k}$
LaTeX
```
\hat{\imath},\ \hat{\jmath},\ \hat{k}
```
Edit here Open in editor
Accented name in a formula
$Poincar \overset{´}{e} and G \ddot{o} del$
LaTeX
```
\text{Poincar\'{e}}\ \text{and}\ \text{G\"{o}del}
```
Edit here Open in editor

In a LaTeX document

These commands work in the text of a .tex document (Overleaf, TeX Live, MiKTeX), not inside math. The box on the right shows what the compiled PDF looks like.

Text accents
LaTeX
```
Caf\'{e}, na\"{i}ve, Espa\~{n}a, gar\c{c}on, \AA ngstr\"{o}m, Dvo\v{r}\'{a}k
```
Compiled result
Café, naïve, España, garçon, Ångström, Dvořák

Text accent commands

The text accents are \' (acute é), a backslash followed by a backquote (grave è), \^ (circumflex ê), \" (umlaut ü), \~ (tilde ñ), \= (macron ō), \. (dot ż), \u (breve ă), \v (caron č), \H (double acute ő), \c (cedilla ç), \k (ogonek ą) and \r (ring å). Write the letter in braces, \'{e}, so it is clear which letter gets the accent.

For i and j use the dotless forms \i and \j under an accent in text, and \imath and \jmath in math: \^{\i} gives î.

Or just type the letter

Since 2018 LaTeX reads source files as UTF-8, so typing é, ü or ñ in text works without any package and is easier to proofread. The accent commands are still useful in BibTeX files and when your keyboard lacks the letter.

Common mistakes

Text accents do not work in math mode; use the math accent or \text{é}.
Instead of
```
$\'{e}$
```
Write
```
$\acute{e}$
```
The normal hat stays narrow; the wide version stretches over both letters.
Instead of
```
\hat{AB}
```
Write
```
\widehat{AB}
```
An accent on a normal i keeps the dot under it.
Instead of
```
\'i
```
Write
```
\'{\i}
```

In Overleaf, MathJax and Word

Overleaf and pdfLaTeX
All accent commands work without packages; UTF-8 letters work in current TeX Live. With an old setup add \usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}.
MathJax and KaTeX
MathJax and KaTeX support the math accents and wide accents; text accents work inside \text{} for the common ones.
Microsoft Word
In a Word equation type the letter and then \hat, \bar, \tilde or \dot followed by Space, or use the Accent gallery.

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Accents (é, ü, x̂) in LaTeX: questions

How do I write é in LaTeX?: \'{e}, or type é directly in a UTF-8 document.
How do I put a hat over a letter in math?: \hat{x}; for several letters \widehat{xy}.
Why does my accent command fail in an equation?: Text accents are not allowed in math mode; use the math accent commands instead.

Related LaTeX reference

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Accents in LaTeX

Math accents

Try it live

Accents (é, ü, x̂) examples

Estimator

Time derivatives

Wide hat

Dotless i under an accent

Accented name in a formula

In a LaTeX document

Text accents