Why Isn't the ` (acute)/~ (tilde) key working?

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Level 1

1 points

Why Isn't the ` (acute)/~ (tilde) key working?

Hi!

I have a Macbook Pro 13" with Retina Display that was bought this year in March (australia). It has a US keyboard.

I have download Parallels Desktop 9 for Mac onto it so that I can use Windows 8. I also got Microsoft Office 2013 on the Windows 8. For some reason, whenever I type ` (acute key) on Word 2013, it types the § symbol instead of the ` (acute). When I try to type the ~ (tilde) - acute + shift, it types the ± symbol instead of the ~ (tilde).

I would really appreciate it if someone could help me solve this problem.

Thanks

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on May 11, 2014 5:08 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

ogordo

Level 1

4 points

Nov 29, 2017 3:05 AM in response to Sandy-Wood

Go to Language options settings and add the 'United States-International' keyboard layout. Mine was 'United States International (Apple) - Parallels' and that one have the tilde '~' key mapped to paragraph '§'.

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Answer 2

May 11, 2014 5:40 AM in response to Sandy-Wood

The only thought I have is that it is something in the Office version (combined with Windows) that you are using (not exactly a brilliant deduction).

The characters you mention type correctly when in OS X. Since I do not use Office, I cannot test the office interaction.

Barry

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Answer 3

Melophage

Level 5

7,213 points

May 12, 2014 11:06 AM in response to Sandy-Wood

Sandy-Wood,

which OS X input source are you using in Mavericks, and which Windows keyboard layout are you using in Windows 8? The typical Australian Mac keyboard is International English, which has a ±/§ key where the ~/` key is on a US English keyboard. This might be a circumstance of either Parallels Desktop 9 or Microsoft Office 2013 being too clever by half, possibly presuming that you have an International English keyboard because something in either Mavericks or Windows 8 identifies you as being Australian.

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Answer 4

Sandy-Wood Author

Level 1

1 points

May 13, 2014 3:55 AM in response to Melophage

Melophage,

Thankyou so much for your help, Melophage!

It took me a while to change the keyboard and understand everything, but the time was well-used.

I appreciate your help.

Thanks again 🙂

Sandy-Wood

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