Jo Willmott

How to input Greek on a computer

In order to write extended passages of Greek with breathings and accents on your computer it is easiest if you use a Greek (polytonic) keyboard handler rather than just switching font in your word processor. Click on your operating system to see more instructions.

Mac OS 10.5 and 10.6

1. Go to System Preferences > International > Input Menu
2. Check the Greek polytonic input method and ensure that 'Show input in menu bar' is checked
3. You will now have an flag icon in your menu bar. Clicking on this will bring up a menu to change to Greek or back to your default language. 
4. On the same menu you can show the keyboard viewer which tells you about which key combinations to use for breathings etc.
5. You can find more information here or else try searching Apple online support (one search here).

Windows XP

1. Go to Control Panel > Regional and Language Options > Languages.
2. Click 'Details' under 'Text Services and InputLanguages'.
3. Click 'Add' under 'Installed Services'. Pull down the 'Keyboard layout/IME' menu and select the 'Greek Polytonic' item.
4. On the right side of your task bar you should see a small keyboard icon. Click on this to change from Greek to English keyboards.
5. For breathings etc. see Start > Programs> Accessories > Accessibility > On-Screen Keyboard while you are in the Greek keyboard.
6. For more information, see here or on the Microsoft helppages, or here for a diagram for inputting combinations of diacritics.