Format equations in MathType Web

Use the formatting controls in MathType Web to change the appearance of an equation. You can make content bold, change its color, choose a font and size, and control how MathType displays variables, function names and regular text.

Before you begin

Requirements

• Access to a MathType Web integration.

Applies to

MathType for Microsoft 365, MathType for Google Workspace and other MathType Web integrations. The available fonts and controls may vary if the toolbar has been customized.

Steps

Open or create an equation in MathType, then follow the sections below for the changes you want to make.

Make part of an equation bold

Use bold formatting to emphasize a symbol or part of an expression while keeping the rest of the equation unchanged.

1. Select the symbols or characters you want to make bold.
2. Select the Bold button in the toolbar. You can also press Ctrl+B on Windows or Cmd+B on macOS.

To remove bold formatting, select the content and use Bold again.

Change the color of selected content

Color can help distinguish a particular symbol or part of an expression from the surrounding content.

1. Select the part of the equation you want to color.
2. Open the Color menu in the toolbar and choose a color.
3. To add a color that is not in the palette, enter its hexadecimal code, such as #000000 for black.

The chosen color applies only to the selected content. Select another part of the equation separately if you want to color it too.

Choose italic, Automatic italic or regular text

MathType provides three controls for how letters and numbers are interpreted and displayed. Choose the one that matches the content you are entering:

Automatic italic

Automatic italic is the default. It treats letters as mathematical variables and displays them in italics, while numbers and recognized function names remain upright. For example, MathType recognizes sin, cos, tan, log and ln as function names.

Italic

Italic makes the characters italic, including numbers and names that MathType would otherwise recognize as functions. Select existing content and choose Italic, or select the button before typing content that should all be italic.

Regular text

Regular text creates a plain-text region within the equation. Characters typed there remain upright instead of being interpreted as mathematical variables or function names. Use it for words or short phrases in an expression.

1. Place the insertion point where the words should appear.
2. Select Regular text and type the words.
3. Move the insertion point outside the text region before continuing the mathematical expression.

Reserved words and unwanted formatting

MathType uses reserved words to identify names that should remain upright when Automatic italic is active. If a longer sequence of variables contains a reserved word, part of the sequence may unexpectedly appear upright. Place the insertion point within that part, delete one letter and enter it again. Alternatively, select the affected letters and apply Italic manually.

If you manage your own integration, you can modify the reserved-word list with the reservedWords editor parameter and configure the default math font style with fontStyle. See MathType Editor parameters and Configure MathType editor parameters.

Choose a font or a styled mathematical character

To change the font, open the font menu in the toolbar and select one of the available fonts. 

The following table shows the default fonts and how letters and numbers appear in each one.

Font	Example
Arial
Classic
Courier New
Tahoma
Times New Roman
Verdana

For a single styled letter, open the Greek, letters and numbers tab and select a double-struck (blackboard bold), Fraktur or script character. The toolbar initially shows commonly used characters. Select the small arrow next to a group to open its full uppercase and lowercase alphabet.

Variant	Example
Double-struck (blackboard bold)
Fraktur
Script

These variants insert individual characters; they do not change the font of the complete equation. Other content in the Greek, letters and numbers tab, including Greek letters and the periodic table, is covered in Toolbar and icons.

If you need a character you cannot find in the toolbar, use Insert special characters in the General tab. See Insert special characters to browse character categories or search by Unicode value.

Change the equation size

Open the size menu in the toolbar and select the size you want.

In MathType for Microsoft 365 and MathType for Google Workspace, font and size changes apply to the whole equation, even when part of it is selected. In an integration you manage, an administrator can configure whether these changes affect the whole equation or only the selection using the globalStyles editor parameter. See MathType Editor parameters and Configure MathType editor parameters.

In MathType for Microsoft 365 and MathType for Google Workspace, select Use selected font and size for new equations at the bottom of the editor to make the current font and size the default for future equations. It does not change equations already inserted in your document.

Adjust structure-specific formatting

For adjustments tied to a particular mathematical structure, such as matrix spacing or the position of a symbol, use the Contextual tab. Its controls change according to the content at the insertion point or in the selection. See Contextual tab in MathType Web for details.

Verify it worked

Review the equation in the editing area. The content you selected for bold or color should display those changes. Variables, function names and regular text should have the intended styles. Check that the chosen font and size apply to the entire equation in Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, or to the configured scope in your own integration. If you enabled the default font and size option, open a new equation to confirm it starts with those values.

Common errors

A function name appears in italics

Select the function name and check whether Italic was applied to it. If so, return to Automatic italic so MathType can display recognized function names upright. If the name is still italic, MathType may not recognize it as a reserved word. In an integration you manage, ask the administrator to review the reservedWords setting; otherwise, select the name and apply Regular text when it should be displayed as upright text.

Part of a longer sequence appears upright

With Automatic italic active, MathType can recognize a reserved word within a longer string and display only those letters upright. If the letters are meant to represent separate variables, place the insertion point in the upright part, delete one of its letters and type it again. You can also select the affected letters and apply Italic explicitly. Review the entire sequence afterward to make sure the intended variables appear consistently.

Words appear as mathematical variables

In Automatic italic, MathType treats most letters as mathematical variables, so a word may appear in italics or be split into differently styled parts when it contains a recognized function name. Place the insertion point where the word belongs, select Regular text and type it there. Move the insertion point outside that text region before continuing with mathematical symbols.

A font does not appear in the menu

The font menu shows the fonts available in the current MathType integration, which may have been customized. If the font you need is missing, ask the administrator of your integration whether it can be added. See Configure custom fonts for the configuration steps.

A font or size change affects the whole equation

In MathType for Microsoft 365 and MathType for Google Workspace, the font and size controls affect the entire equation even when you have selected only part of it. This is expected for those products. In an integration you manage, ask the administrator to check the globalStyles editor parameter if font and size should apply only to selected content. Bold and color can still be applied to a selection as described in the steps above.

Related articles

• Insert special characters.
• Autoformat.
• Configure custom fonts.
• Configure MathType editor parameters.