How to Type Fractions in Word: AutoFormat, Symbols, Equations

Recipes, product measurements, timings for a half-day workshop: fractions turn up in business documents more often than you'd think, and "1/3" typed with a slash can look a bit untidy. Word has four ways to produce a neat fraction, and which one you need depends on the fraction itself.

The three Word converts by itself

Type 1/2, 1/4 or 3/4 and Word swaps it for a single fraction character. Microsoft says this AutoFormat As You Type option only works for those three. If you didn't want the change, press Ctrl+Z straight away, or hover over it and use the AutoCorrect Options button to undo it or stop Word doing it again.

Four methods compared

Method	Works for	Result
Type it (AutoFormat)	Halves, quarters and three quarters	Single fraction character
Insert > Symbol, Number Forms	Other common fractions such as thirds and fifths	Single fraction character, if the font has it
Superscript and subscript	Anything, such as 8/9	A fraction you build yourself
Equation (Alt+=)	Any fraction, including formulas	A stacked, professional fraction

Inserting other fractions from Number Forms

1. Click where you want the fraction.
2. Go to Insert > Symbol > More Symbols.
3. In the Subset dropdown, choose Number Forms.
4. Double-click the fraction you want, such as one third or one fifth.
5. Select Close.

If you can't find Number Forms in the list, the font you're using doesn't include it. Microsoft suggests switching to a font such as Calibri. Its own example of how much fonts differ is that Elephant has no fraction characters at all, while Verdana does.

Keyboard codes for halves and quarters

If you'd like a keyboard route for the common three, Microsoft lists these character codes. Hold Alt and type the numbers on a numeric keypad with Num Lock switched on:

• One quarter: Alt+0188
• One half: Alt+0189
• Three quarters: Alt+0190

They won't work with the number row along the top of the keyboard, which catches out a lot of laptop users.

The catch: most fractions don't have a symbol

This is the limit people don't expect. Microsoft says only a handful of common fractions have a symbol you can substitute. For anything unusual, such as 8/9, you build it yourself by making the top number superscript and the bottom number subscript:

1. Type the fraction, for example 8/9.
2. Select the top number and, on the Home tab, select Superscript. The shortcut is Ctrl+Shift+Plus sign.
3. Select the bottom number and select Subscript on the Home tab.

If you change your mind, select the text and press Ctrl+Spacebar to remove the formatting. You'll also find both options in the Font dialog, in the Effects group.

Stacked fractions with the equation editor

For maths, science or anything with a formula, use an equation. Press Alt+= to start one and type the fraction with a slash. Microsoft's example is a/(b+c), which builds into a fraction with a on top and b+c underneath. Choose Convert > Professional, or press Ctrl+=, to see it stacked. Press Ctrl+Shift+= to switch back to the one-line version.

It gives the neatest result, but it's an equation object rather than ordinary text, so I'd keep it for documents that need it rather than every recipe card.

Fixing fractions already in a document

If you've pasted text full of typed fractions, Word's AutoFormat command can convert them in one go. Microsoft says it makes the same kinds of changes as AutoFormat As You Type, but to text that's already there. You need to add it to the Quick Access Toolbar first: click Customize Quick Access Toolbar, choose More Commands, pick All Commands, select AutoFormat or AutoFormat Now, click Add and then OK. Remember it only converts the same three common fractions.

Keeping fractions consistent across a document

The thing that makes a document look sloppy isn't the method you choose, it's mixing them. If a recipe card has a neat half symbol in one line and a typed 1/3 in the next, readers notice. Before you finish, scan the document and decide on one style. If most of your fractions are halves and quarters, let AutoFormat handle them and insert the others from Number Forms. If you've got lots of unusual ones, use superscript and subscript throughout so they all match.

It's also worth checking how your fractions look in the font you'll print or publish in. A fraction character that looks crisp in Calibri may not exist in a decorative heading font, so test a line before you format a whole menu, product sheet or handout in it.

Which method for which document

• Recipes and craft instructions: AutoFormat plus Number Forms for neat, single characters.
• Product specs and measurements: superscript and subscript, so unusual sizes match the common ones.
• Training material with formulas: the equation editor, so fractions stack clearly.

What I'd do

Let Word handle halves and quarters, use Number Forms for thirds and fifths in a font like Calibri, and save the equation editor for real maths. For everything else, superscript and subscript are perfectly readable. If you're tidying a CV with this, my guide to formatting a resume in Microsoft Word helps with the rest, and here's how to password protect a Word document before you send it.

Frequently asked questions

Which fractions does Word convert automatically?

Only 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4. Microsoft says the AutoFormat option works for those three.

How do I type one third in Word?

Go to Insert, Symbol, More Symbols, choose the Number Forms subset and double-click the fraction.

Why can't I find Number Forms in the Symbol dialog?

Not all fonts have it. Switch to a font such as Calibri and look again.

How do I make a stacked fraction in Word?

Press Alt+=, type the fraction with a slash, then press Ctrl+= to convert it to Professional format.

How do I stop Word changing 1/2 into a symbol?

Press Ctrl+Z straight after, or use the AutoCorrect Options button and choose Stop.