Spanish Signs

The Spanish Written Accent.

The only accent in Spanish is ('). It is used--

(1) To mark the exceptions to the _Rule of Stress_.

(2) To distinguish between two meanings of the same word, as El (the),El (he); De (of), Que el de (that he may give); Se (3rd person reflexivepronoun, "himself," etc.), Yo se (I know); Mas (more), Mas (but).

(3) In the following words established by use, as "o" or "u" (or),"e" (and), "a" (to).[4]
(4) In some words when used interrogatively, as Quien? (who?), Que?(what?), Cual? (which?), Cuyo? (whose?), Donde? (where?).

(5) On _I_ and _U_ when they occur together with _A, E_ or _O_, the _I_or _U_ not belonging to the same syllable, viz., not forming diphthongwith _A, E_ or _O_, as Filosofia (philosophy), El continua (hecontinues).

(6) On _I_ following _U_ when the _I_ does not form a diphthong, butstands as a separate syllable, as Concluido (concluded), Imbuido(imbued).

(7) On Este (this), Ese and Aquel (that) when these words are stressed.

[Footnote 4: According to the last edition of the Grammar of theSpanish Academy, these words may now be written without the accent.]

Crema (Diaeresis).

The diaeresis is placed over _u_ in "guee" and "guei" when the _u_ is tobe sounded.[5]
[Footnote 5: In poetry also to divide an ordinary diphthong into twosyllables for the sake of rhythm.]

Tilde.
The tilde (~) is used on the letter _N_ to turn it into _N_, as Manana(morning) (in old Spanish spelt Mannana).

Notes of Interrogation and Exclamation.

These are used in Spanish both at the beginning and at the end of thequestion or exclamation, as ?Que quiere V.? (what do you want?),iCuantos sufrimientos! (how much suffering!). Note that at the beginningthey are reversed.

The other signs of punctuation are used as in English.

Capital letters are used as in English with the following exceptions--

(1) Adjectives of nationality are written with small letters, as Unlibro ingles (an English book).
(2) Days of the week generally (and sometimes the months of the year)are written with small letters.