Computer >> Computer tutorials >  >> Software >> Software

Insert an X‑Bar Symbol in Microsoft Word: Simple Windows & Mac Instructions

If you need to enter an X-bar in Word to represent the sample mean, you have a few ways to do it. Whether you use Windows or Mac, here’s how to type the X-bar symbol in Microsoft Word.

How to Type X-Bar in Word on Windows

With Word on Windows, you can have a couple of easy ways to type an X-bar.

Use the Word Symbol Feature

Microsoft Word provides a Symbol feature that you can use to add your X-bar symbol.

  1. Type an X.
  2. Go to the Insert tab and open the Symbol drop-down menu. Pick More Symbols.
Insert an X‑Bar Symbol in Microsoft Word: Simple Windows & Mac Instructions
  1. Do one of the following:
  2. Select Normal Text in the Font drop-down menu and Combining Diacritical Marks in the Subset menu. Alternatively, select Arial Unicode MS in the Font menu.
  3. Enter 0305 in the Character Code field near the bottom right and pick Unicode in the From menu to the right.
Insert an X‑Bar Symbol in Microsoft Word: Simple Windows & Mac Instructions
  1. When you see the Combining Overline symbol, select Insert to place the line over the top of the X.
Insert an X‑Bar Symbol in Microsoft Word: Simple Windows & Mac Instructions
  1. Select Close to exit the Symbol dialog box.

Use the Numeric Keypad

If you have a keyboard with a numeric keypad, you can use it to create the X-bar symbol in Word on Windows.

  1. Type an X.
  2. Hold Alt and enter 0773 on the keypad.
  3. Release the Alt key and you’ll see the X-bar in your document.
Insert an X‑Bar Symbol in Microsoft Word: Simple Windows & Mac Instructions

Similar to the Character Map you see on Windows, you have the Character Viewer on Mac. This handy tool includes many symbols and special characters you can use.

  1. Type an X in your document.
  2. Open the Character Viewer by doing one of the following:
  3. Select Edit > Emoji & Symbols in the menu bar.
  4. Use the keyboard shortcut Command + Control + Space bar.
Insert an X‑Bar Symbol in Microsoft Word: Simple Windows & Mac Instructions
  1. If necessary, expand the Viewer using the icon on the top right to switch from the emoji keyboard to the full Viewer.
Insert an X‑Bar Symbol in Microsoft Word: Simple Windows & Mac Instructions
  1. Choose Unicode on the left. If you don’t see Unicode, open the three-dot menu on the top left, pick Customize List, check the box for Code Tables > Unicode, and select Done.
Insert an X‑Bar Symbol in Microsoft Word: Simple Windows & Mac Instructions
  1. After you pick Unicode, choose Combining Diacritical Marks to the right.
  2. At the bottom, double-click the Combining Overline symbol in row 0300.
Insert an X‑Bar Symbol in Microsoft Word: Simple Windows & Mac Instructions

You should then see the line over the top of your X.

Use the Equation Editor in Word on Windows or Mac

Another way to insert an X-bar in Word that works the same on both Windows and Mac is with the Equation Editor.

  1. Go to the Insert tab, open the Equation drop-down menu, and select Insert New Equation.
Insert an X‑Bar Symbol in Microsoft Word: Simple Windows & Mac Instructions
  1. You’ll see the equation field pop into your document. On the Equation tab, open the Accent menu and choose Bar.
Insert an X‑Bar Symbol in Microsoft Word: Simple Windows & Mac Instructions
  1. When the Bar appears in the equation field, select the box beneath it and type an X.
Insert an X‑Bar Symbol in Microsoft Word: Simple Windows & Mac Instructions
  1. You can then use the X-bar as-is by clicking outside the equation field and moving the X-bar where you need it. Additionally, you can remove the italic from the font.
Insert an X‑Bar Symbol in Microsoft Word: Simple Windows & Mac Instructions
  1. To remove the italic format, select the X-bar, go to the Home tab, and deselect Italic in the Font section.
Insert an X‑Bar Symbol in Microsoft Word: Simple Windows & Mac Instructions

Use Copy and Paste in Word on Windows or Mac

One final way to insert an X-bar in Word is to simply copy and paste it from another source.

  1. Using your preferred search engine, enter “x-bar” or “x-bar symbol.”
  2. Select the X-bar symbol in the search results or visit a result to select the symbol.
Insert an X‑Bar Symbol in Microsoft Word: Simple Windows & Mac Instructions
  1. On Windows, use Ctrl + C or on Mac, use Command + C to copy the symbol.
  2. Return to your Word document and use Ctrl + V on Windows or Command + V on Mac to paste the symbol.
Insert an X‑Bar Symbol in Microsoft Word: Simple Windows & Mac Instructions

When you need to type an X-bar symbol in your Word document, you have a few convenient ways to make it happen on Windows and Mac.

For more, look at how to type exponents on Windows, Mac, and Chromebooks.