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Article ID: 137734 - Last Review : January 19, 2007 - Revision: 1.2

WD: How to Insert Fractions Other Than 1/2, 1/4, 3/4

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This article w as previously published under Q137734
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SUMMARY
The AutoFormat feature in Word automatically changes the typed number "1/2" to the symbol for 1/2. This feature
also changes "1/4" and "3/4" to their appropriate symbols. The "More Information" section of this article explains
how you can use the AutoCorrect feature to change typed fractions to their respective symbol characters.
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MORE INFORMATION

Article Translations
To create an AutoCorrect entry for a fraction, you must create the fraction symbol and then add it to the
AutoCorrect list.

Arabic

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To Create the Fraction Symbol

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Method 1: Use an Equation Field to Create the Fraction:

This method creates a fraction w ith a horizontal line betw een the numerator and the denominator.

WD: Equilibrium Symbol Not

Available in Symbol or
Equation Editor
Fractions converted to
underscore characters in
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1. Place the insertion point w here you w ant the fraction to appear.
2. Press CTRL+F9 to insert field braces.
3. Betw een the field braces, type the follow ing
EQ \F(a,b)

underscore characters in
Word for Macintosh and ...
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w here a and b are the numerator and denominator of the fraction.

Insert a fraction
For example, if you w ant to create the fraction 1/8, the field w ould look like this
{ EQ \F(1,8)}
4. With the insertion point in the field, press SHIFT+F9.
Method 2: Use Equation Editor to Create the Fraction:
NOTE: The Equation Editor is NOT installed during a typical installation. If you ran a typical installation, you w ill need
to quit Word and run Setup again to install the Equation Editor, before using this method.
This method creates a fraction w ith a diagonal line betw een the numerator and the denominator.

How do I insert symbols

How to make 1 8 symbol in
w ord
How do I insert a symbol
How to w rite text in w ord

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1. Place the insertion point w here you w ant the fraction to appear.
2. On the Insert menu, click Object.
3. In the Object Type list, click Microsoft Equation 2.0 (Microsoft Word for Window s 95, version 7.0) or
Microsoft Equation 3.0 (Word 97), and then click OK.
4. In the Equation toolbar, click the second button in the second row .
5. Click to select the type of fraction you w ant. To match other symbols in the document, you probably w ant
the smaller fraction w ith the diagonal. Click the second button in the second row .
6. In the dashed boxes, type the numerator and denominator.
7. Click outside the equation area to return to Word.
Method 3: Use Superscript and Subscript Formatting to Create the Fraction:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Place the insertion point w here you w ant the fraction to appear.
Type the numerator and then select it.
On the Format menu, click Font.
On the Font tab, under Effects, select the Superscript check box, and then click OK. The numerator is
now superscripted.
Press CTRL+SPACEBAR to clear the superscript format for the remainder of the fraction.
Type the fraction separator bar /.
Type the denominator and then select it.
On the Format menu, click Font.
On the Font tab, under Effects, select the Subscript check box, and then click OK. The denominator is
now subscripted.

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To Create an AutoCorrect Entry for the Fraction Symbol

1. Click to select the fraction symbol you just created.
2. On the Tools menu, click AutoCorrect. Under "Replace text as you type," the fraction appears in the With
box.
3. In the Replace box, type the numbers in the fraction. For example,type 1/8.
4. Click Formatted Text, and then click OK.
When you type the fraction text in the document, the fraction symbol appears automatically after you press the
SPACEBAR.
AutoFormat can only use the symbols available to the normal text font: 1/2, 1/4, and 3/4. To preview these
symbols, on the Insert menu click Symbol, and in the Font list, click (Normal Text).
The precise look of the normal text symbols differs slightly from those added using the EQ field or the Equation
Editor. Adjustments to font size, character position, and character spacing may be necessary to match the
symbols available in the Normal font.
You can also use the AutoText feature in Word to store and use fractions in a document.
For more information about creating and using AutoText entries, click the Office Assistant, type "How do I create
an AutoText entry?" (w ithout the quotation marks), click Search, and then click the "Use shortcuts to insert
frequently used text and graphics" topic.
NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Word Help is not
installed on your computer, please see the follow ing article in the Microsoft Know ledge Base:
120802 Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office Program or Component
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APPLIES TO
Microsoft Word 97 Standard Edition
Microsoft Word 95 Standard Edition
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Keywords: kbfield kbhow to kbualink97 kbusage KB137734

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Retired KB Content Disclaim er

This article w as w ritten about products for w hich Microsoft no longer offers support. Therefore, this article
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is offered "as is" and w ill no longer be updated.

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