How to Use the Microsoft Equations Editor via the Keyboard and Speech with the NVDA Screen Reader

How to Use the Microsoft Equations Editor via the Keyboard with the NVDA Screen Reader

Introduction

This document applies to using the Equation Editor in Microsoft Word 365 with the NVDA (Non-Visual Desktop Access) screen reader and the MathCAT plug-in. It will focus on entering equations using the UnicodeMath linear format using speech. Please be sure to see the Recommended Settings section before going too far with the Equation Editor.

The Microsoft Equations Editor in Word is a powerful tool for reading, creating, and editing mathematical expressions. It allows users to insert and format equations using keyboard shortcuts, making it accessible for screen reader users. Using the Equations Editor can enhance the clarity and professionalism of mathematical documents.

Benefits of Using the Equation Editor in Word

• Consistency: Ensures mathematical expressions are formatted uniformly like they are in textbooks and professional papers.

• Accessibility: Keyboard shortcuts and screen reader support make it an accessible tool for reading, writing, and editing mathematical expressions with speech and/or braille.

• Versatility: Supports various input formats and types of mathematical expressions. Documents with professional looking mathematics can be created without needing to learn how to create full-blown LaTeX documents.

Before Getting Started with the Equation Editor

Recommended Settings

Many NVDA and MS Word settings can be customized to make non-visual math editing much easier. The documents linked to here describe the settings we recommend as well as provides instructions on how to set them:

• Recommended NVDA Settings for Editing Math in MS Word with Speech

• Recommended MS Word Settings for Editing Math with Speech

Here is a list of the recommended settings in brief:

NVDA

NVDA does not handle math natively. Use the MathCAT plug-in for handling math. It provides the most accurate speech and braille output along with a robust set of configuration options (see recommended MathCAT settings below).

• NVDA Version: 2024.2 or later

• Math plug-in: MathCAT

Recommended MathCAT NVDA plug-in settings for Speech Output:

• MathCAT Version: 0.5.6 or later

• Speech Category Settings:

  • Set “Generate Speech for” to “Blindness”

  • Set “Speech Style” to “ClearSpeak”

  • Set “Speech Verbosity” to “Verbose”

  • Set “Speech for chemical equations” to “Off”

• Navigation Category Settings:

  • Set “Navigation mode” to “Enhanced”

  • Set “Navigation speech to use when beginning to navigate an expression” to “Speak”

  • Set “Speech amount for navigation” to “Verbose”

  • Set “Copy math as” to “MathML”

MS Word

When editing equations using NVDA with speech, it is easier to have the automatic features of the editor turned off. This keeps the editor from “building-up” linear text entry into 2D Professional structures as you type.

• Version: Either Word 365 or Word 2021 (or newer)

• Equation Options:

  • Set “Automatically convert expressions to professional format” to “Unchecked”

• Math AutoCorrect:

  • Set “Use Math AutoCorrect rules outside of math regions” to “Unchecked”

  • Set “Replace text as you type” to “Unchecked”

Modes in the Equation Editor

The following terms and concepts describing how the Equation Editor works will be covered in more detail below, but it's useful to hear briefly about them in all one place before getting started.

Linear vs. Professional Forms

Microsoft equations exist in one of two forms: Linear or Professional. Equations that are entered via the keyboard are created and edited in the Linear form, and then "built up to" (or converted to) the Professional form for display purposes.

• Linear Form:

  • Displays equations in their source text.

  • This is the best form to use when creating or editing equations using a screen reader.

  • Equations that are in the Professional form may be converted back into the Linear (source text) form using menu commands or by pressing Ctrl + Shift + =

• Professional Form:

  • Displays equations in a two-dimensional form like how they appear in textbooks and professional papers.

  • This is the best form to use when finished editing an equation and you want it in the form sighted readers are used to.

  • Convert an equation into the Professional Form using menu commands or by pressing Ctrl + =

Linear Input Formats:

There are three linear formats for typing and editing equations while in the Linear form: UnicodeMath, LaTeX, and Text. Toggling on one of these input formats turns off the other two.

• For math terms:

  • UnicodeMath:

    • UnicodeMath is the most concise format for typing math equations. It's somewhat unique to Microsoft Word. It makes use of the many AutoCorrect codes you might already be familiar with such as \angle for the angle symbol.

    • To activate the UnicodeMath input format (while in an equation), press and release the 'Alt' key followed by the 'J' and 'E' keys to enter the Equation ribbon. Then press the 'U' and 'F' keys to toggle UnicodeMath on.

  • LaTeX:

    • The Word 365 equation editor allows typing math equations using basic LaTeX commands. While not all LaTeX commands are supported, LaTeX is widely used in academia and is known by many.

    • To activate the LaTeX input format (while in an equation), press and release the 'Alt' key followed by the 'J' and 'E' keys to enter the Equation ribbon. Then press the 'T' and 'X' keys to toggle the LaTeX format on.

• For basic text input:

  • Text:

    • To enter words or text phrases, you need to leave the math input formats and turn on the Text format.

    • To activate the Text input format (while in an equation), press and release the 'Alt' key followed by the 'J' and 'E' keys to enter the Equation ribbon. Then press the 'N' key to toggle the Text format on.

    • When you are finished entering a word or phrase, switch back to either the UnicodeMath or LaTeX input formats.

Display Equations vs. Inline Equations:

In Microsoft Word, the difference between inline and display equations lies in how the equations are formatted and displayed within the document. The difference is mostly visual, and the Word editor will handle switching between the two types automatically.

• Inline Equations:

  • Blend seamlessly with the surrounding text, keeping the line height consistent and appearing as part of the paragraph.

  • Word will switch automatically to the inline rendering type when any other text content is on the same line (paragraph) as the equation. For example, when a math expression is used as part of a sentence.

• Display (Block) Equations:

  • Are separated from the paragraph text, centered on their own line, and typically larger and more spaced out, providing clearer readability for complex expressions.

  • Word will use the display rendering type automatically when no other content is on the same line as the equation.

Equation Tab’s Ribbon Controls and Features

When the Equation Editor in Word is active, an Equation tab appears in the ribbon. The Equation tab disappears when the Equation Editor is no longer active.

Getting Into the Equation Tab’s Ribbon

There are several ways to access the controls presented on the ribbon in MS Word via the keyboard. The most efficient way is to utilize a series of KeyTips to navigate the ribbon tabs and then the controls on that tab. KeyTips are a one- or two-character sequence of letters and digits. When you press and release the Alt key, the KeyTips become available. For example, to select the Equation tab, press and release the 'Alt' key then press the 'J' and 'E' keys. Once the Equation tab is selected, then a new set of KeyTips become available for the controls provided on the Equation tab.

Getting Out of the Ribbon

After activating a control on the ribbon, either the command will be performed and focus will return to the document, or a dialog will appear. If a dialog appears, then when you close that dialog focus will be returned to the document. To get back to the document from the ribbon without activating a control, press the escape key several times (once for each level of the ribbon you have entered).

Controls Available from the Equation Tab with KeyTips

On the Equation tab of the ribbon, you will find these tools and options:

1. Tools Group:

   • Equation: KeyTip E - A gallery of pre-defined equations for common mathematical expressions (e.g., the quadratic formula, area of a circle). Clicking on an equation in the gallery inserts it into your document.

   • Ink Equation: KeyTip K - Insert mathematical expressions using your handwriting.

2. Conversions Group:

   • Unicode: KeyTip UF - Activate Unicode input mode for typing equations using the UnicodeMath format.

   • LaTeX: KeyTip TX - Activate LaTeX input mode for typing equations using the LaTeX format.

   • Text: KeyTip N – Use to enter whole words or phrases or to convert the selected text within an equation to normal text, removing any mathematical formatting.

   • Convert menu: KeyTip C – Opens a drop-down menu with these options:

     • Current - Professional: KeyTip C - Switch the selected equation to Professional mode, which displays it in a two-dimensional (built-up) format.

     • Current - Linear: KeyTip C - Switch the selected equation to Linear mode, which displays it in the one-dimensional UnicodeMath or LaTeX format.

     • All - Professional: KeyTip A - Switch all equations in the document to Professional mode, which displays it in a two-dimensional (built-up) format.

     • All - Linear: KeyTip A - Switch all equations in the document to Linear mode, which displays it in the one-dimensional UnicodeMath or LaTeX format.

   • Equation Options: KeyTip T1 - Show the “Equation Options” dialog to configure advanced options such as the default font used for math, whether expressions are automatically converted into processional format, Math AutoCorrect settings, etc.

3. Symbols Group/Gallery: Key Tip Q - This group contains a gallery of commonly used mathematical symbols with buttons for inserting a symbol into your expression. There is a drop-down control for selecting which set of symbols are displayed. The symbols listed are divided into the following sets:

   • Basic Math

   • Greek Letters

   • Letter-Like Symbols

   • Operators

   • Arrows

   • Negated Relations

   • Scripts

   • Geometry

4. Structures Group: Insert built-up two-dimensional structures (fractions, trig functions, integrals, limits, summations, etc.) with empty placeholders. This document does not cover how to edit expressions using the built-up structures and placeholders found in the Structures Group.

   • Fractions: KeyTip F - Different styles of fractions (e.g., stacked, skewed, linear).

   • Scripts: KeyTip S - Superscripts and subscripts for powers and indices.

   • Radicals: KeyTip R - Square roots and other types of roots.

   • Integrals: KeyTip I - Integrals, Contour Integrals, and Differentials

   • Large Operators: KeyTip G - Large operators like summations (Σ) and integrals (∫).

   • Brackets: KeyTip B - Various styles of brackets (e.g., parentheses, square brackets).

   • Functions: KeyTip U1 - Common trigonometric functions.

   • Accents: KeyTip A - Accents over or under characters (e.g., bars, hats, tildes, arrows), boxed equations.

   • Limits and Logs: KeyTip M - Limits, logs, max, and min functions.

   • Operator: KeyTip O - Colon equals, plus equals, minus equals, etc.

   • Matrices: KeyTip X - Insert matrices of various sizes and styles.

To learn about other ways to navigate the MS Word ribbon with the keyboard, please see: Use the keyboard to work with the ribbon in Word on support.microsoft.com.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Note: Each of the shortcuts listed in this section assume focus is either in the document or within the Equation Editor. If keyboard focus is in the ribbon, press the escape key until you here “Document selected” or enough times to ensure you’ve backed out of the ribbon.

If the shortcut has keys separated by a + plus symbol, then press those keys simultaneously. If the shortcut has keys separated by a comma, then press the first key (or keys), release them and then press the next ones.

From within a MS Word document and not within the Equation Editor

• Insert New Equation: Alt + =

From within the Equation Editor:

• Switch Current Expression to Professional Form: Ctrl + =

• Switch Current Expression to Linear Form: Ctrl + Shift + =

• Switch All Expressions to Professional Form: Alt, J, E, C, A, Enter

• Switch All Expressions to Linear Form: Alt, J, E, C, A, A, Enter

• Switch to UnicodeMath Linear Format: Alt, J, E, U, F

• Switch to LaTeX Linear Format: Alt, J, E, T, X

• Switch to Text Linear Format: Alt, J, E, N

• Symbols Gallery: Alt, J, E, Q (then arrow keys to select the desired symbol gallery/symbol)

• Insert Fraction: Alt, J, E, F (then arrow keys to select the desired fraction structure)

• Insert Root (radical): Alt, J, E, R (then arrow keys to select the desired radical structure)

Entering Expressions in Linear Unicode Format

To enter expressions in Linear Unicode format:

• From within the document body, press Alt + = to begin a new expression

• Type the expression using standard keyboard characters and special commands

• For example, to enter a fraction: a/b

Math “AutoCorrect” Codes for Use Entering UnicodeMath in Linear Mode

Using Math AutoCorrect codes in the Microsoft Word Equation Editor's Linear input mode allows you to quickly enter mathematical expressions using simple text-based commands. Math AutoCorrect codes are predefined codes that the equation editor will recognize and convert into mathematical symbols, structures, or even whole expressions. Usually, they start with a backslash followed by an identifier made up of a sequence of letters and numbers. For example, \alpha converts to the lowercase Greek letter alpha ($\alpha$). They allow using keyboard input over selecting symbols or structures from the ribbon.

For reference, several useful math AutoCorrect codes are provided in the tables below. Note: When spaces are important in the UnicodeMath examples provided below, a space is represented by the characters <sp>. For details on using these AutoCorrect symbols when creating expressions, please see the Walkthrough Examples of Entering Expressions section below.

Basic Arithmetic

Operator or Symbol	Syntax	Example in UnicodeMath	Professional Output
Addition	+	6+5	$$6 + 5$$
Subtraction	-	6-5	$$6 - 5$$
Multiplication (times sign)	\times	6\times<sp>5	$$6 \times 5$$
Multiplication (dot)	\cdot	6\cdot<sp>5	$$6 \cdot 5$$
Division sign	\div	6\div<sp>5	$$6 \div 5$$
Division (stacked fraction)	/	6/5	$$\frac{6}{5}$$
Division (skewed fraction)	\sdivide	6\sdivide<sp>5	$$\frac{6}{5}$$
Division (linear fraction)	\ldivide	6\ldivide<sp>5	$$6/5$$

Equality/Inequality Symbols

Operator or Symbol	Syntax	Example in UnicodeMath	Professional Output
Equals	=	x=10	$$x = 10$$
Not Equal	\ne	x\ne<sp>10	$$x \neq 10$$
Less than	<	x<10	$$x &lt; 10$$
Greater than	>	x>10	$$x &gt; 10$$
Less than or equal	\le	x\le<sp>10	$$x \leq 10$$
Greater than or equal	\ge	x\ge<sp>10	$$x \geq 10$$

Algebra

Operator or Symbol	Syntax	Example in UnicodeMath	Professional Output
Exponentiation (raise to the power)	^	3^2=9	32 = 9
Subscripts	_	m=(y_2-y_1)/(x_2-x_1)	$$m = \frac{y_{2} - y_{1}}{x_{2} - x_{1}}$$
Square root	\sqrt	\sqrt<sp>4=2	$$\sqrt{4} = 2$$
Cube root	\cbrt	\cbrt<sp>8=2	$$\sqrt[3]{8} = 2$$
Quadratic Root	\qdrt	\qdrt<sp>16=2	$$\sqrt[4]{16} = 2$$
Misc. Root (Radical with degree) Note: The & character separates the root degree from the argument	\sqrt(degree&argument)	\sqrt(n&x)	$$\sqrt[n]{x}$$
Summation	\sum	\sum_(n=1)^5<sp>(n^2+1)	$$\sum_{n = 1}^{5}{(n^{2} + 1)}$$
Product	\prod	\prod_(i=m)^n<sp>(a_i)	$$\prod_{i = m}^{n}{(a_{i})}$$

Geometry

Operator or Symbol	Syntax	Example in UnicodeMath	Professional Output
Line (overbar)	\overbar	\overbar(AB)	$$\overline{AB}$$
Line (left right arrow above)	\tvec	(AB)\tvec<sp><sp>	$$\overleftrightarrow{AB}$$
Angle	\angle	\angle<sp>A	$$\angle A$$
Right angle	221f Alt+x	221f Alt+x A	$$∟A$$
Degree	\degree	90\degree<sp>	$$90{^\circ}$$
Triangle	25b3 Alt+x	25b3 Alt+x ABC	$$\bigtriangleup ABC$$
Perpendicular	\perp	\overbar(AB)<sp>\perp<sp>\overbar(CD)	$$\overline{AB}\bot\overline{CD}$$
Parallel	\parallel	\overbar(AB)<sp>\parallel<sp>\overbar(CD)	$$\overline{AB} \parallel \overline{CD}$$
Circle	25ef Alt+x	25ef Alt+x A	$$◯A$$
Pi	\pi	d=2\pi<sp>r	$$d = 2\pi r$$

Trigonometry

Operator or Symbol	Syntax	Example in UnicodeMath	Professional Output
Sine function	sin	0.5=sin\theta<sp>	$$0.5 = \sin\theta$$
Cosine function	cos	0.5=cos\theta<sp>	$$0.5 = \cos\theta$$
Tangent function	tan	tan\theta<sp>=.75	$$\tan\theta = .75$$
Cotangent function	cot	cot(30\degree)=\sqrt<sp>3	$$\cot(30{^\circ}) = \sqrt{3}$$
Secant function	sec	sec(45\degree)=\sqrt<sp>2	$$\sec(45{^\circ}) = \sqrt{2}$$
Cosecant function	csc	csc(45\degree)=\sqrt<sp>2	$$\csc(45{^\circ}) = \sqrt{2}$$
Inverse sine function	sin^(-1)	\theta<sp>=sin^(-1)<sp>a/b	$$\theta = \sin^{- 1}{a/b}$$
Inverse cosine func.	cos^(-1)	\theta<sp>=cos^(-1)<sp>0.6	$$\theta = \cos^{- 1}{0.6}$$
Inverse tangent func.	tan^(-1)	tan^(-1)<sp>(0.25)=14.04\degree<sp>	$$\tan^{- 1\ }{0.25} = 14.04{^\circ}$$

Calculus

Operator or Symbol	Syntax	Example in UnicodeMath	Professional Output
To do

Statistics and Probability

Operator or Symbol	Syntax	Example in UnicodeMath	Professional Output
To do

Matrices

Operator or Symbol	Syntax	Example in UnicodeMath	Professional Output
To do

Miscellaneous Symbols

Operator or Symbol	Syntax	Example in UnicodeMath	Professional Output
To do

Walkthrough Examples of Entering Complete Expressions

To do

Using Parenthesis

To do

How to Edit Existing Equations

To do

Symbol different in different countries

• Some commonly used symbols do not have autocorrect

• Only the first equation in a line is read.