Improving readability of MathType for Microsoft 365 equations with NVDA

MathType for Microsoft 365 generates accessible descriptions for equations in Microsoft Word. While this allows screen readers to correctly announce math expressions, MathType also includes a "MathML metadata" block at the end of the description. This metadata is necessary for the equations to remain editable, but it causes NVDA to read a long, confusing string of code (starting with {"mathml":...) immediately after the equation.

By using NVDA's Speech Dictionary with a Regular Expression, you can instruct NVDA to automatically detect and silence this metadata, leaving only the clean, spoken math description.

• Requirements: NVDA 2022.1 or newer
• Applies to: Equations made with MathType's add-in for Word in Office 365, and NVDA

Steps

1. Open the Dictionary:
   Press NVDA + N to open the menu. Go to Preferences > Speech Dictionaries > Default dictionary.
   
   

   

   
    
2. Add New Entry:
   Tab to the Add button and press Enter.
   
   

   

   
    
3. Enter the Pattern:
   - Pattern: paste the following regex:
   \{"mathml":.*?\}
   - Type: Select Regular Expression (use arrows to select).
   - Replacement: Leave empty.
   
   

   

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2. Save:
   Press Enter (ok) to close the Add box, and Enter (ok) again to save the dictionary.

Verify it worked

1. Open a Microsoft Word Document with MathType Add-in equations. You can download this example.
2. Right-click the equation graphic and select View Alt Text to check the text description and the MathML.
3. Open NVDA and select the equation again; you should not hear the MathML block.