For the purpose of giving inflection to certain words, or to designate the prolongation of occasional syllables in a word, the author frequently finds it convenient to use certain characters to denote such accents. To illustrate :

The Acute (á) gives the rising inflection ; as

"Will you ride?"

The Grave (à) the falling; as

" Will you wàlk or ride."

The Circumflex (â.) indicates the rising and falling inflection in the same syllable ; as,

" Machine," Montreâl," etc.

The Macron (-) placed above a letter designates a full, long vowel sound ; as

"Fāte." "Hōme." "Nōte." "Ēve," etc.

A Breve ( ˘ ) denotes a short sound, when placed above a vowel; as

" Ă-dōre." " Glō-rĭ-oŭs."

The Diosresis (ä) is used for the purpose of dividing a diphthong, or syllable into two distinct syllables; as

" Avengëd" " Belovëd."

Also when two vowels come together, this character is sometimes used to show that they are not contracted into a diphthong; as

"Coöperate." "Reïterate." "Reäppear."

The Cedilla (Ç) is a mark placed under the c to denote that its sound is the same as the letter s; as

"Çhaise." " Façade."

The Tilde (ñ) placed over an n gives it the sound of ny ; as

"Miñon." "Señor."