Formatting equations

Use this guide when you need to control how MathType replaces keyboard characters, formats variables and function names, inserts plain text, or applies math font variants. 
 

Before you begin

• Requirements: Access to the MathType editor. Some formatting behavior depends on settings configured by your administrator.
• Applies to: MathType Web. Autoformat is enabled by default in MathType for Google Workspace and MathType for Microsoft 365 but may be optional in other integrations.

Use Autoformat

Autoformat replaces certain keyboard characters with mathematical symbols and creates matching fences while you type.

Steps

1. Place the insertion point where you want the symbol or fenced expression to appear.
2. Enter a supported keyboard character. MathType immediately replaces it with its mathematical equivalent.
3. Enter an opening fence when you need parentheses, brackets, or braces. MathType automatically adds the corresponding closing fence.
4. Enter the expression between the fences.

The following image shows the supported character replacements:

The replacement occurs immediately:

These fences support automatic closing:

Verify it worked

• Supported keyboard characters appear as their mathematical equivalents.
• Entering an opening fence automatically produces a matching closing fence.

Options and variations

• To change an automatically inserted closing fence: Place the insertion point immediately before it and enter the alternative closing fence.

• For other MathType integrations: An administrator or developer must enable Autoformat using the MathType editor parameters.

Use Automatic italic

Automatic italic is enabled by default. It formats variables in italics while keeping numbers, symbols, and recognized function names upright.

Steps

1. Confirm Automatic italic is active in the toolbar.
2. Enter the equation. MathType formats individual letters as variables and displays them in italics.
3. Enter a recognized function name. MathType changes it to upright characters when you enter its final letter.

By default, MathType recognizes these function names:

• sin
• cos
• tan
• log
• ln

Verify it worked

• Individual variables appear in italics.
• Numbers, symbols, and recognized function names appear upright.

Options and variations

• To disable Automatic italic temporarily: Select the Automatic italic button. MathType stops recognizing and formatting function names automatically.
• To configure the behavior: Administrators can use the fontStyle parameter to configure automatic formatting and the reservedWords parameter to define recognized function names.

Insert plain text

Use a regular text region when an equation needs to contain words or other non-mathematical text.

Steps

1. Place the insertion point where the text should appear.
2. Select the Regular text button in the toolbar.
3. Enter the required text.
4. Leave the text region before continuing the mathematical expression.

Verify it worked

• The text is upright and is not processed by Automatic italic.
• The blue editing boundary does not appear after you insert the completed equation.

Correct unwanted automatic formatting

A longer sequence of variables may contain letters that MathType recognizes as a function name. For example, MathType may recognize tan while you enter a longer sequence.

Steps

1. Enter the complete sequence.
2. Place the insertion point within the part formatted as a function name.
3. Delete one letter from the recognized sequence.
4. Enter the deleted letter again.

Action	Result
Enter the first letters.
MathType recognizes tan.
Enter the remaining letters.
Place the insertion point in the recognized sequence.
Delete one letter.
Enter the letter again.
The complete sequence is formatted as variables.

Verify it worked

• The previously recognized function name now uses the same variable formatting as the surrounding letters.

Options and variations

• To format selected content manually: Select it and use the Italic button. Depending on the mixed formatting in the selection, you may need to select the button twice to obtain the required result.

Use math font variants

You can set the font for the complete equation, insert individual variant symbols, or apply a variant to selected content.

Set the font for the complete equation

1. Open the font menu.
2. Select the required font. MathType applies it to the complete equation.

Font	Example
Arial
Classic
Courier New
Tahoma
Times New Roman
Verdana

Insert individual symbols with a font variant

1. Open the toolbar tab containing the required symbols.
2. Select a double-struck, script, or Fraktur symbol.

Variant	Example
Double-struck, or Blackboard Bold
Script
Fraktur

Apply a font variant to selected content

1. Select the content you want to format.
2. Select the required formatting control in the toolbar.

Verify it worked

• The complete equation, individual symbol, or selected content uses the required font or variant.
• Unselected content remains unchanged unless you changed the font for the complete equation.

Options and variations

• For double-struck characters: Insert the individual symbols from the toolbar. You cannot apply this variant to arbitrary selected content.
• For custom equation fonts: An administrator must configure the fonts before they appear in the font menu.
• For monospaced variants: MathType supports monospaced bold, italic, and bold italic combinations, although these are not standard MathML variants.

Common errors

• A function name appears in italics: Automatic italic is disabled or the function is not included in the configured reserved words. Enable Automatic italic or ask your administrator to review the configuration.
• Part of a longer sequence appears upright: MathType has recognized those letters as a function name. Delete and re-enter one of the letters in the recognized sequence.
• Words are formatted as mathematical variables: They were entered directly in the equation. Use a Regular text region.
• The expected font is unavailable: Only the default fonts are available unless an administrator has configured custom fonts.
• Autoformat does not replace keyboard characters: Autoformat may not be enabled in your MathType integration.

Related

• Reference: MathType editor parameters
• How to configure custom fonts
• Reference: Toolbar and icons