Why is it important to use a tilde?

Question

Why is it important to use a tilde?

Answer 1

Try looking up "ano" and "año" (or "cono" and ****) in the dictionary.

Now, Samdie, be nice... - CalvoViejo, May 23, 2011

Ha! Great answer... - Tosh, May 23, 2011

The bleeped word is cono with the ñ on it... we'll leave it to you to figure out the rest. =) - DJ_Huero, May 23, 2011

Answer 2

It can change a word's meaning completely.

Answer 3

For pronounciation reasons, it can change the sound and the meaning totally.

Answer 4

"ñ" makes a completely different sound than "n" does. It's kind of hard to show the difference on a keyboard, but "ñ" makes sort of a "nnneh" sound while "n" makes your standard "n" sound. That's a really pathetic attempt at the sound...think of words like baño, mañana, and año and how it feels in your mouth to say them, and you will hopefully understand what I'm trying to say.

A good example is the word "mañana". The two "n"s have a completely different feel and sound when you say them.

Hope this helps

Answer 5

It makes the word be pronounced in a different way!

Answer 6

You can see this in English, too. Compare:

Resume

Resumé

Sure, the second word is adopted from French, but you can see how the difference is just as important as any spelling difference.

Answer 7

Well, why is it important to spell correctly? So people understand you.

Think about this, suena means it sounds, but sueña means it dreams. Two very different meaning, differing only by one letter.