How to Create Equations in Microsoft Word

We offer two methods for creating equations:

1. Copy an existing equation (recommended for most cases).

2. Create a new equation.

To reuse the existing equation by copying the existing equation, see Chapter 1, How to
Place Equations, on page 41.

An equation consists of the equation (formula) itself and the equation number
associated with it (unless it is an inline equation). Inline equations can be entered using
MathType or equation editor. This chapter covers numbered equations. Generally,
publishers expect that the equation itself is centered, and the equation number is right-
aligned and enclosed in parentheses on the same line, like this:

𝐸=𝑚𝑐2 (1)

Create an Equation with the Equation Editor

In the past, the default equation editor that shipped with early versions of Microsoft
Word had a negative reputation, for its inconsistent functionality and less-than-
attractive output. In striking contrast, the equation editor built-in to Microsoft Word
2013 is a powerful and flexible tool. It is more than likely that, with just a little bit of
practice, you will find that the Word 2013 equation editor will successfully handle all of
your documents’ equations. More importantly, if you collaborate on a team, you will not
have to worry if the other team members have a compatible version of MathType.

GetStarted

Mathematical typography rules are used in rendering text when the text appears in math
zones. The quickest way to enter a math zone is to type the hot key, Alt + =. This displays
a rectangle enclosing the words Type equation here or the equivalent in the user locale
language. You can type any mathematical expression there, even just a simple variable
like 𝑥. If the Creating Research and Scientific Documents Using Microsoft Word:
Preview Chapters [DRAFT]

expression's math zone is the only text on the line(s), it'll be displayed in display mode.
Else it's displayed in the somewhat compressed inline mode (TeX's $$ vs $).
When you type enough for an expression to be unambiguous, it builds up right in front of
your eyes! This process is called formula autobuildup. For example, type
a^2+b^2=c^2<space> and you see the Pythagorean Theorem

𝑎2+𝑏2=𝑐2 (2)

Here the + and = terminate the superscript expressions a^2 and b^2, respectively,
causing them to be converted to their built-up forms 𝑎2 and 𝑏2. Since no operator (or
enter) follows the c^2 in the equation, you need to type a space to build it up. The
superscript notation a^2 is an example of the linear format documented in Unicode
Technical Note #28, Unicode Nearly Plain-Text Encoding of Mathematics, and discussed
later in this chapter. Symbols not on the keyboard can be typed in using their standard
TeX names.

Insert an Equation or Insert a Symbol

You can also insert a math zone from the Insert-ribbon option entitled Equation

The insert equation drop-down has a list of famous equations that you can insert.

This way of inserting a math zone is discoverable, that is, you’re likely to find it by
browsing the Word ribbons. In particular, putting the mouse over the 𝜋, a description of
the functionality is displayed along with the hot key, Alt + =. Clicking on the 𝝅 (or typing
Alt + =) inserts a math zone. Clicking on the word Equation displays a drop-down list of
famous equations you can insert. You can also add new equations to this list for your
convenience. Creating Research and Scientific Documents Using Microsoft Word:
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Right next to the 𝜋 button is the Ω Symbol button. Clicking on this displays a dialog with
some symbols you can insert. More interestingly, click on the More symbols option.
This displays a symbol dialog for the current font. To see the characters in the Cambria
Math font, change the font to Cambria Math and admire the large number of math
symbols available. Here’s a sampling:

You can look at all the characters in any font that you select.

Use the Mathribbon

When the text selection is inside a math zone, the Equation Tools (math) ribbon
appears.

This math ribbon offers many mathematical objects and symbols that can be inserted
into a math zone. It aids in making such objects and symbols discoverable. If you
browse over the symbols, tool tips are displayed revealing control words you can type to
enter the symbols from the keyboard. Creating Research and Scientific Documents
Using Microsoft Word: Preview Chapters [DRAFT]

For example, typing \alpha enters a math-italic 𝛼. You can change or add to these
control words as described in the section on math autocorrect.

Incorporate Math Structures

The right-hand side of the math ribbon has the math structure gallery.

You can click on these to get menus of math structures. For example, clicking on the 𝑥𝑦
button, you see a menu of fraction templates and common fractions that you can
choose to insert into your math zone.

! NOTE As you see here, inserting a built-up fraction in line adds extra vertical
space. To avoid this, use a linear fraction as in 𝒙/𝒚.

In the next subsection, ways are given that let you enter math text more quickly with the
keyboard. But you can use the ribbon itself with the keyboard: type Alt J to get to the
ribbon followed by highlighted letters for the various options. For example, Alt J E F
displays the fraction structures menu above. You can navigate the menu using arrow
keys and insert one by typing the Enter key. Creating Research and Scientific
Documents Using Microsoft Word: Preview Chapters [DRAFT]

Enter Algebraic Expressions

Given Unicode’s strong support for mathematics, how much better can a plain-text
encoding of mathematical expressions look using Unicode? The most well-known ASCII
encoding of such expressions is TeX, so we use it for comparison. Notwithstanding TeX’s
phenomenal success in the science and engineering communities, a casual glance at
its representations of mathematical expressions reveals that they do not look very
much like the expressions they represent. Unicode lets us represent mathematical
expressions more readably in what we call the “linear format”. Using this format in Word
is very powerful, since you can easily enter and edit mathematical text in built-up form.

The present section introduces the linear format with fractions, subscripts,
superscripts, square roots and mathematical functions. It concludes with a subsection
on how the ASCII space character U+0020 is used to build up one construct at a time.
This is a key idea that makes the linear format ideal for inputting mathematical
formulae. For a more detailed discussion, see the linear format paper.
One way to specify a fraction linearly is LaTeX’s \frac{numerator}{denominator}.The { }
are not printed when the fraction is built up. These simple rules immediately give a
“plain text” that is unambiguous, but looksquite different from the corresponding
mathematical notation, thereby making it harder to read. Instead we define a simple
operand to consist of all consecutive letters and decimal digits, i.e., a span of
alphanumeric characters. As such, a simple numerator or denominator is terminated by
most nonalphanumeric characters, including, for example, mathematical operators,
and the space. The fraction operator is given by the usual solidus / on your keyboard.So
the simple built-up fraction𝑎𝑏𝑐𝑑.

appears in linear format as abc/d. To force a display of a normal-size linear fraction, one
can use \/ (backslash followed by slash).

For more complicated operands (such as those that include operators), parentheses ( ),
brackets [ ], or braces { } can be used to enclose the desired character combinations.If
parentheses are used and the outermost Creating Research and Scientific Documents
Using Microsoft Word: Preview Chapters [DRAFT]

parentheses are preceded and followed by operators, those parentheses are not
displayed in built-up form, since usually one does not want to see such parentheses. So
the plain text (a + c)/d displays as𝑎+𝑐𝑑.

In practice, this approach leads to plain text that is easier to read than LaTeX’s, e.g.,
\frac{a + c}{d}, since in many cases, parentheses are not needed, while TeX requires {
}’s.To force the display of the outermost parentheses, one encloses them, in turn, within
parentheses, which then become the outermost parentheses. For example, ((a + c))/d
displays as(𝑎+𝑐)𝑑.

A really neat feature of this notation is that the plain text is, in fact, often a legitimate
mathematical notation in its own right, so it is relatively easy to read.

Subscripts and superscripts are a bit trickier, but they’re still quite readable.
Specifically, we introduce a subscript by a subscript operator, which we display as the
ASCII underscore _ as in TeX. A simple subscript operand consists of the string of one or
more alphanumeric characters. For example, a pair of subscripts, such as 𝛿𝜇𝜈 is written
as 𝜹_𝝁𝝂. Similarly, superscripts are introduced by a superscript operator, which we
display as ^ as in TeX. So a^b means 𝑎𝑏.

As for fractions, compound subscripts and superscripts include expressions within

parentheses, square brackets, and curly braces. So 𝛿𝜇+𝜈 is entered as 𝜹_(𝝁+𝝂). Another
kind of compound subscript is a subscripted subscript, which works using right-to-left
associativity, e.g., a_b_c stands for 𝑎𝑏𝑐. Similarly a^b^c stands for 𝑎𝑏𝑐. Parentheses are
needed for constructs such as a subscripted superscript like 𝑎𝑏𝑐, which is given by
a^(b_c), since a^b_c displays as 𝑎𝑐𝑏 (as does a_c^b).

While on the subject of subscripts and superscripts, let’s discuss summation and
integral, which often have upper and lower limits. You can enter these using the
structures on the math ribbon, but it’s easier just to type them in. In TeX and the Office
linear format, these are entered the same way as superscripts and subscripts,
respectively. For example, to enter∫𝑒−𝑥2𝑑𝑥∞0=√𝜋2, Creating Research and Scientific
Documents Using Microsoft Word: Preview Chapters [DRAFT]

type \int_0^\infty e^-x^2 dx → =\sqrt(\pi)/2, where → is the right arrow key. As soon as
you type the _, the \int is autocorrected into the integral sign ∫. There are some spaces
in this linear-format text that do conversions too. The first space autocorrects \infty to
∞. The second builds up the integral and leaves the insertion point inside the integrand.
Typing e^-x^2 <space> <space> builds up to 𝑒−𝑥2. The → moves the insertion point
outside of the integrand. Word really wants to know what’s in the integrand (or
summand for a summation, etc.). This allows for better typography and is useful in case
you want to compute the value of the integral using the math plug-in. The left
parentheses converts the \sqrt into √ and the / builds up the √𝜋.

Similarly to enterΣ𝑛𝑛𝑖=1=𝑛(𝑛+1)2,

type \sum_(i=1)^n n → =n(n+1)/2<space>. Hence such n-ary expressions are entered

almost the same way as subscripts and superscripts.

These formulas are displayed in display mode, i.e., by themselves on a line. In display
mode, summation limits traditionally appear above and below the summation sign,
whereas in line, they become subscripts and superscripts as in Σ𝑛𝑛𝑖=1=𝑛(𝑛+1)2. Also
note that the letters in the in-line fraction have the same size as the subscripts and
superscripts. This occurs to make the formula fit into the line more easily. Displayed
integral limits are usually subscripts and superscripts, but you can overrule this choice
using the Equations Options menu described in the Math Autocorrect section coming
up.

Note that entering equations this way doesn’t require the mouse and is generally faster
than using the mouse once you know the names of the variables.