How can I type accents such as acute, grave etc as used in some languages?

Use the colon as a substitute.

For characters that are not on your keyboard you can use the Character Map in Windows. (I don't recall if it is originally found on the Accessories or System Tools menu, since mine was rearranged long ago.)

You can select/copy & paste from the grid of characters shown under each font, or use ALT + 4-digits shown on the number pad for many of the available characters.

I found a little program you install that allows you to type some of those characters easily

e.g.

SHIFT + 6 , e = ê

' , e = é

` , e = è

and so on.

It was created for South Africa, in particular for the Venda language that uses some strange characters, like Ḓ and Ṱ, but I think it includes most "funny" characters

Use the 'insert' on the top toolbar. Then select 'field'.

There are quite a few fonts which you can choose from.

Alternately, use tools, customize, insert, and drag the icon for symbol onto your toolbar.

In Word, go into 'symbols' and try to find it. Otherwise, try buying a European keyboard.

I have one, it's a 'qwertz', not a 'qwerty', but otherwise it's fine.

Keep ALT pressed then type the character code on the numeric keypad.

eg ALT 0228 gives: ä

ALT 0231 gives : ç

In italian the extreme accessory can in basic terms be placed on "e" (which comprise in "perché"). words like "lunedì", "più" etc choose the grave one. in fact in case you look up the be conscious "lunedì" in an italian dictionary, you will see it is spelt with the grave accessory on the "i". Your e book is in all likelihood following out of date grammar regulations...