How to Write Fractions in Google Docs?

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We come across fractions in our daily lives, be it at work or school. 

We find the need to write bits in our documents, be it a cooking recipe, an article, a school assignment, etc. 

People, especially students, involved in Maths and Science will find the need to write fractions in their reports. Not only this but you will also see them being used extensively in the field of business and accounting.

Google Docs is an excellent platform for writing any type of article, financial reports, cooking recipes, etc. and it offers multiple ways to write fractions. Your document looks more professional if you write the fraction a/b as a/b and you may agree that the former looks better.

Documents that involve math may sometimes require using fractions to represent a value. If we were to write the following like so:

1/2 + 1/2 = 1

You can tell that visually it does not look good or professional.

If we were to write it like

1/2+1/2= 1

You can immediately tell there is some form of visual clarity here.

So, in this article, I will show you how to write fractions in Google Docs using different methods.

Some of these methods will only require in-built features in Google Docs whereas others might require the help of external websites or 3rd party add-ons.

Method 1: Write Fractions in Google Docs Using Google Docs Auto-Formatting

This is the easiest method to write fractions in Google Docs involving numbers.

By default, Google Docs formats any fractions (having numbers) that you type in. If for some reason this auto-formatting is not enabled, you can enable it and then type your fraction to get it auto-formatted.

To check if auto-formatting is enabled follow the steps below. We will see an example where we type the fraction 1/2.

  1. From the menu bar clicks on the Tools button.
Click the Tools option
  1. In the menu that appears click on Preferences.
Click on preferences
  1. The Preferences window will open as shown.
Preferences window
  1. Click on the Substitutions tab.
Click on the Substitutions tab.
  1. Check the Automatic Substitution checkbox.
check automatic substitution
  1. Click on OK.
Click OK
  1. Now on your Google Docs page, type the following.
Type fraction in google docs
  1. Press Enter. The result will look like the one shown below.
Google docs automatically convert fraction to better format

The dotted underline indicates that the fraction has been formatted. You can see that the fraction style is slanted.

If this is the fraction format you want, go ahead. If not, then use other methods described below.

Also read: Strikethrough Shortcut in Google Docs

Method 2: Write Fractions in Google Docs Using the Built-In Equation Tool

This is also one of the easiest ways to type fractions in Google Docs.

Furthermore, if you are looking for a vertical style fraction rather than the slanted one as we have seen previously then this method may be used.

This method is useful for writing fractions that involve both numbers as well as alphabets or characters.

We will see an example where we type the fraction 1/2.

  1. From the menu bar click on the Insert button.
click the insert option
  1. In the menu that appears click on the Equation button.
Click on equation
  1. An equation box will appear on the page along with an options bar on the top as shown.
equation box will appear
  1. From the options bar, select the Math Operations drop-down.
select the Math Operations drop-down
  1. The following options will appear.
Math operation options
  1. Click on the Fraction option as shown.
click on the fraction option
  1. In the equation box, type 1 (the numerator in the fraction) and press Enter. 
enter the fraction numerator in google docs
  1. In the equation box, type 2 (the denominator in the fraction) and press Enter.
enter the fraction denominator in google docs
  1. Press Enter one more time. The final result will look like the one shown below.
Final fraction result

You can see that by using this method we have written a fraction that is formatted in a vertical style. 

Also read: Superscript Shortcut in Google Docs

Method 3: Write Fractions in Google Docs Using Subscript and Superscript

This method is for formatting fractions that do not involve numbers. Say for example a/b.

This may be required if you are writing a mathematical expression and so this method is the way to go.

We will see an example where we will type the fraction 1/2.

  1. Type the following. (Do not press Enter or any other key.)
Enter the fraction
  1. Select the numerator in the fraction (as shown below)
select the numerator in the fraction
  1. From the menu bar click on the Format button.
Click the Format option
  1. Hover your mouse over the Text option.
hover over text option
  1. Select the Superscript option.
Select the superscript option
  1. On your page select the denominator as shown.
select the denominator in the fraction
  1. From the menu bar click on the Format button.
click the format option
  1. Hover your mouse over the Text option.
hover over text option
  1. Select the Subscript option.
Click on subscript
  1. The result will look like the one shown below.
fraction in Google docs

Again you can see that the fraction style is slanted. If this is the look you’re going for, go ahead.

If not, then use other methods described below or the previous method using the built-in equation tool.

However, this method is useful if you want a slanted style and want to write fractions that do not involve numbers.

Method 4: Write Fractions in Google Docs Using 3rd Party Add-Ons

In this method, we will install a 3rd party add-on in our Google Docs to help us write fractions. The add-on we will be installing is called Auto-Latex Equations. 

We will see an example where we type the fraction 1/2 with the help of this add-on.

  1. From the menu bar click the Extensions button.
Click on extensions
  1. Hover your mouse over the Add-ons option.