Despite the existence of the metrical organization and an increased reliance in late years on decimal fraction to spell partial amounts ( such as 2.5 ) , we often come up ourselves wanting to drop in a on-key fraction . We know that ½ or ¾ looks snazzy than 1/2 and 3/4 , like hold sure you ’re using curly or typographer ’s quotation marks rather of full-strength typewriter ones .
But you’re able to well be stymie when typing in Microsoft Word or Apple ’s Pages : not all fractions appear to be “ uncommitted . ” you’re able to simulate them by using font styling to choose superior ( for the top figure , or numerator ) and inferior ( for the bottom one , the divisor called the denominator ) , but then , does n’t the slash between them look wrong ?
There are two cascade issues :
So close! Depending on the typeface—here, Helvetica Now Display—it substitutes most fractions in a pleasing style from the font.
What Word and Pages can do
Word only automatically substitutes a minuscule subset of typed numbers with the “ right ” fractions from a typeface : 1/2 , 1/4 , and 3/4 .
Pages has a gravid variety . In my testing and ostensibly depending on the fount , it will dangle in all available fractions when the denominator is 2 up through 10 ( from 1/2 to 9/10 , say ) . So , character 5/8 , and you get the neat looking ⅝. However , these fraction can vary in coming into court , as Pages will show 1 that are both using the design of the typeface and ones that look much more generic and are intelligibly pull in from another face .
So confining ! calculate on the font — here , Helvetica Now exhibit — it substitute most fraction in a pleasing stylus from the case .
Foundry
What if you ’re using something that does n’t fit autoformatting ? Or you want something more exact ? you’re able to jump into a manual process with some shortcuts .
Format with “fake” fractions
We imagine of typefaces as have all necessary letters , numbers , and symbol we need to write essay , reports , and web pageboy . In fact , few typefaces contain every potential theatrical role , as most people need only a sure act of those for twenty-four hours - to - day use . A fancier typeface , one designed for more sophisticated or subtler typographic purpose , often includes a lot of extras , like many ligatures , or drawn - as - joined fictional character . The fi and ff ones are vernacular , but some faces include st and Th as well .
With fractions , some fonts – item-by-item styles of a fount , like bold or 800 or condensed oblique – may have only the most basic ratios , which are typically 1/2 , 1/4 , 3/4 , 1/3 , 2/3 , and 3/3 . Others may fill out the fraction menage for eighths , too .
However , many baptistery do let in drawn superior and subscripts designed to be used for footnotes , scientific notation , and fraction . These are create by the type designer to have the same look and weight as other characters in a given style of a case . But you have to work to pick them .
With the right typeface, you can use the Typography palette to construct a fraction.
you could pick out superscript ( the upper number ) and subscript ( the lower ) for number by using styling choices in Word or Pages . When chosen , those apps do n’t pluck the draw letter but rather shrink a even numeral down and reposition it vertically . This can make the fractions place upright out awkwardly if your written document is otherwise well - design or even if it uses a single system of weights ( like Georgia Roman ) and a individual size of it of a face . ( you may tell when someone trust on footnotes that have n’t been give a decorator ’s pass , as they the superscript numbers will seem lighter or thin equate to the main organic structure textbook — sometimes nearly undecipherably so . )
However , this method is aboveboard and fast ; it ’s appropriate for personal and cozy uses . Here ’s how to make “ fake ” superscripts and subscript :
Format with “true” or drawn fractions
If you want to aim for something typographically consistent , you could reach the drawn superscript and subscript in a font through the Character Viewer . If you do n’t know how to access this palette , see “ How to habituate macOS ’s Character Viewer to typewrite emoji and other symbols . ”
Caption : The Character Viewer give you direct entree to choose well - proportion fractions .
The well-heeled way to use the Character Viewer to retrieve fraction is to customise the display :
Now when you bring up the pallette and clickDigits – All , you ’ll see every number uncommitted in Unicode , which include fractions and the characters for draw in superscripts and subscripts .
you’re able to drag on or double - snap any item in the pallet into a papers . If you have the text insertion cursor at a point where you could enter school text in Word or Pages , double - clicking inserts . Otherwise , hale the character into the document . If you imitate ( Command+C ) the fraction and then glue it , it will paste the fraction and its character information ; you’re able to delete the unneeded info .
It can be annoying to scroll each metre to detect what you require . To go around the scrolling , choose each fraction and click Add to Favorites under its preview at the right-hand side of the viewer . Then you could click the Favorites radio link in the unexpended - manus list .
With the right typeface , you’re able to apply the Typography palette to construct a fraction .
I ’ve found that in some typefaces , the superior 1 , 2 , and 3 do n’t tally the other numbers , probable for historical reasons . If you notice that conflict , you have a workaround that relies on OpenType characteristic you’re able to get at through the Typography pallet in Pages only :
If the typeface contains the correct characters , you ’ll then be able to compose perfect fraction . You may also postulate to adjust persona space to make the fraction look just right : click the gear wheel menu in theFormat > Textpalette and melt off Character Spacing .
Get the right forward slash
There ’s one more subtlety you could appeal if you want to put the cherry on top of the fraction bar . There are several sort of forward slashes in most typefaces and defined in the arch over Unicode data formatting . A regular slash is about 20 point from the vertical ; one used with a fraction is closer to 30 degrees . The fraction solidus in a fount jibe more neatly with the drawn superscript and subscript , and have the right heaviness of stroke to make it all look like a design unit of measurement .
Search in the Character pallette for “ fraction stroke ” to find and fave that extra - particular diagonal .
Build what you need
If you frequently need fraction , you could work up a document with vulgar fractions constructed from superscripts , fraction slash , and subscripts , and then imitate and glue them in as needed into your independent document . Or you could typewrite normal fractions , like 5/8 , and then search and put back for that text , replace with run numbers like ⅝.