4 Ways to Write a Fraction in Microsoft Word

Key Takeaways 

• Microsoft Word provides equations that allow much flexibility in adding fractions to your document.
• Besides equations, the auto-format and auto-correct settings would allow you to include fractions.

Method 1: Using Equations

Unlike the symbols and autoformat options, which present limited fraction types to insert in your document, you can try creating your fraction using equations. Here’s how to do so:

Step 1: On the Microsoft Word Ribbon, click the Insert tab.

Step 2: Within the Symbols group, click the Equation drop-down button.

Step 3: Click Insert New Equation to open an Equation tab on the Ribbon.

Step 4: Click the Fraction drop-down from the Structures group in the Equation tab.

Step 5: From the Fraction drop-down menu, select the preferred form for your fraction. This will insert the fraction’s format on the Word canvas.

Step 6: On the Word canvas, enter the numerator and denominator for your fraction.

Method 2: Using AutoFormat

In Microsoft Word, you can enable a setting to format common fractions to their typical symbol automatically. When you type a fraction like 1/2, Word will convert it to the format ½. Here’s how to enable the setting on your Word document:

Step 1: Launch the Microsoft Word app.

Step 2: On the Word Ribbon, click on the File tab at the top-left corner.

Step 3: Scroll to the bottom of the File menu and click on More or Options to reveal a collapsed menu.

Step 4: Click Options from the menu.

Step 5: From the Word Options pop-up window, click Proofing from the left sidebar.

Step 6: Scroll down the Proofing menu and click the AutoCorrect Options button to launch a new AutoCorrect box for the language setting enabled for your Microsoft Word document.

Step 7: Go to the AutoFormat As You Type tab.

Step 8: In the Replace as you type group, tick the box for Fractions (1/2) with fraction character (½).

Step 9: Click OK to save your changes.

Step 10: Type a fraction like 3/4 on your Word Canvas, and it should change to a fraction character (¾).

The autoformat method will only work for popular fractions such as ½, ¾, etc. Fractions such as 1/9, 5/8, etc., may not benefit from this method. However, there are other methods you can use below to get the right fraction format.

Method 3: Using AutoCorrect

The AutoFormat option only works with popular fractions in Word’s default autoformat list. You can expand this list by including new fractions in AutoCorrect. Here’s how to do so:

Step 1: On the Word Ribbon, click on the File tab at the top-left corner.

Step 2: Scroll to the bottom of the File menu and click on More or Options to reveal a collapsed menu.

Step 3: Click Options from the menu.

Step 4: From the Word Options pop-up window, click Proofing from the left sidebar.

Step 5: Scroll down the proofing menu and click the AutoCorrect Options button to launch a new AutoCorrect box for the language setting enabled for your Microsoft Word document.

Step 6: Click the AutoCorrect tab.

Step 7: Tick the box for Replace text as you type.

Step 8: In the Replace field, enter the simple form of the fraction (e.g., 1/8).

Step 9: In the With field, enter the standard form of the fraction (e.g., ⅛) and click Add. You can search the web for the standard form of the fractions you want.

Step 10: Repeat for all the fractions you want to create > click OK to save your changes.

When you type 1/8 on the Word canvas, it should be replaced with ⅛. You may also explore additional AutoCorrect settings.

Method 4: Using Symbols

Microsoft Word has a special character utility that allows you to view and insert special symbols and equations into your document. Here’s how to use it to create a fraction in your document.

Step 1: On the Microsoft Word Ribbon, click the Insert tab.

Step 2: Within the Symbols group, click the Symbol drop-down button.

Step 3: Select the More Symbols option to launch the Symbol dialog box.

Step 4: From the Symbol dialog box, go to the Symbols tab.

Step 5: Click the Font drop-down and select (normal text).

Step 6: Click the Subset drop-down and select Number Forms.

Step 7: Select a fraction you want to insert in the document and click Insert.

As with the AutoFormat option, the types of fractions in the Symbols utility are limited.