estos or éstos for "those"

Question

Is there a difference between using this word with an accent or not? In your translation, I am seeing both as an answer for "those."

I'm translating: 14 of them gained their independence from Spain. And of these 14, six of them...

Is this correct? 14 de éstos ganaron su independencia de España. De los 14, 6 de ellos....

Answer 1

It wouldn't have an accent, it would be "14 de estos" (I would even say 14 de ellos, but that's a different thing...)

That rule about accents used just in some cases affects only "esta" and "este" (and their plurals).

Maybe this thread might help you about that: difference in esta with accent and without

Thank you. The thread is helpful. - penney, Sep 2, 2010

Answer 2

As Lazarus points out in the reply to which LoaBravo linked, the RAE changed the rules in '98. Prior to that time, the demonstrative pronouns did have an accent and the demonstrative adjectives did not (and that was how they could be distinguished in written Spanish [in addition, of course, to context]).

As such things go, 20 years is not a long time so many books still in print continue to have the tilde on the pronouns (even those printed after '98). Also people who completed their education before '98 (and who are not compulsive about keeping up with the latest "official" rules) may continue to use the tilde.