Some of the content in this topic may not be applicable to some languages.

Microsoft Office Word includes built-in support for writing and editing equations. Previous versions used the Microsoft Equation 3.0 add-in or the Math Type add-in. Equation 3.0 was included in previous versions of Word and is available in Office Word. Math Type was not included in previous versions of Word but was available for purchase.

If an equation was written in a previous version of Word and you want to edit the equation by using Office Word, you need to use the add-in that was used to write the equation. If you purchased Math Type, you need to have Math Type installed.What do you want to do?

Change an equation that was written in Office Word

  1. Click the equation that you want to edit.
  2. Make the changes that you want.

Change an equation that was written in a previous version

To change an equation that was written in a previous version by using the Equation 3.0 add-in or the Math Type add-in, you need to use the add-in that was used to write the equation.

When you open a document that contains an equation that was written in a previous version of Word, you cannot use the built-in support for writing and changing equations unless you convert your document to Office Word.

Change an equation that was written by using Equation 3.0

  1. Double-click the equation that you want to edit.
  2. Make the changes that you want.

    To get help in Equation Editor, click Equation Editor Help Topics on the Help menu.

Change an equation that was written by using Math Type

To change an equation written with Math Type, you need to have Math Type installed.

  1. Double-click the equation that you want to edit.
  2. In Math Type, edit the equation.
  3. On the File menu, click Close and Return to name of the document that contains the equation.

    To get help in Math Type, click Contents and Index on the Help menu.

Convert your document to Office Word

If you convert your document and save it as an Office Word file, you will not be able to use previous versions of Word to change any equations in the document.

  1. Click the Microsoft Office Button button image, and then click Convert.
  2. Click the Microsoft Office Button button image, and then click Save.

    Note After you convert your document, you need to save the document as an Office Word document, or the document will revert to the previous version.