Setting Gap Spacing in the Equation Editor

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated September 26, 2019)

The Equation Editor allows you to specify the minimum spacing between the numerator and denominator of an equation and the division bar used between them. In Equation Editor terminology, this spacing is called the gap. You specify the gap spacing as a percentage of the normal character height. You can set this value as follows:

Choose Spacing from the Format menu. The Equation Editor displays the Spacing dialog box.
Click on the Minimum Gap box (you will need to scroll down some in the list of spacing settings). The Equation Editor changes the Spacing dialog box. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The Spacing dialog box.

Enter a value representing the percentage of font size that is the minimum acceptable spacing.
Click on OK.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (945) 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...

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