What is a diacritic?
Q: What is a diacritic?
A: A diacritic is a mark put above, below, through or on a letter that usually affects the way the word is said (pronounced).
Q: Where does the word "diacritic" come from?
A: The word comes from the Greek word διακριτικός (transl. diakritikós, 'distinguishing').
Q: Are diacritics common in English?
A: No, diacritics are rare in English but common in many other languages.
Q: Why are most alphabets not exact when it comes to describing sounds of words?
A: Most alphabets do not describe the sounds of words exactly because they lack certain symbols and marks needed to represent them accurately.
Q: What are some examples of diacritics?
A: Some examples of diacritics are an acute accent or a grave accent.
Q: How can diacritics affect pronunciation?
A: Diacritics can affect pronunciation by changing how a particular letter or syllable is pronounced.
