Entering Regular Text in the Equation Editor

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated August 22, 2019)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003

The Equation Editor is a tool you can use to create complex mathematical formulas and insert them in your documents. These formulas use the large mathematical symbols you are familiar with from your old math textbooks.

When you enter information in slots in the Equation Editor, you cannot normally enter spaces, so it is difficult to enter regular text. You can enter regular text, however, by using the Text style to define text. Any other style, such as Math, Variable, or Greek, will not allow you to enter the spaces; the Text style will. You select Text style by selecting the Text option from the Style menu.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (923) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Problems with Custom Views

If you get an error when you try to use one of your custom views, it could be due to the protection you have applied to ...

Discover More

Getting Help Offline

Word provides two different sources from which you can get help—either online or offline. By default, Word uses the ...

Discover More

Over a Hundred Free Windows E-Books

The Internet always provides a huge amount of information, some of it actually of value. Here's a link to a resource that ...

Discover More

The First and Last Word on Word! Bestselling For Dummies author Dan Gookin puts his usual fun and friendly candor back to work to show you how to navigate Word 2019. Spend more time working and less time trying to figure it all out! Check out Word 2019 For Dummies today!

More WordTips (menu)

Using the Equation Editor for Fractions

How to use the Equation Editor when creating formulae in Word documents.

Discover More

Setting Matrix Column Spacing in the Equation Editor

If you are using matrices in your equations, you may want to adjust the spacing used between columns.

Discover More

Setting Limit Line Spacing in the Equation Editor

The Equation Editor is a great way to add a professional-looking equation to your document. It allows you to modify many ...

Discover More

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

Notify me about new comments ONLY FOR THIS TIP

Notify me about new comments ANYWHERE ON THIS SITE

Hide my email address

What is five more than 6?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)

This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.