How to Insert or Type the Beta Symbol in Word (β or Β)

Insert the Beta Symbol in Word Documents (Lower or Upper Case)

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated June 20, 2023

Applies to: Microsoft^® Word^®  2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 or 365 (Windows)

You can insert or type the Beta symbol in Word documents in several ways. The Greek Beta symbol can be entered in lower case (β) or upper case (Β) using built-in commands or keyboard shortcuts (including Alt codes, AutoCorrect entries or custom shortcuts). Beta is the 2nd letter in the Greek alphabet and is comparable to the letter B.

In this article, we'll review 6 ways to insert the Beta symbol in Word:

1. Use the Insert Symbol command in the Ribbon
2. Press Alt and then type a number sequence
3. Assign custom keyboard shortcuts
4. Use the Symbol font and press the corresponding letter on the keyboard
5. Use Math AutoCorrect
6. Type AutoCorrect entries in an equation block or placeholder

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1. Inserting the Beta symbol using Insert Symbol

To insert the Beta symbol using Insert Symbol:

1. Position the cursor in the document where you want to insert the Beta symbol.
2. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
3. In the Symbols group, select Symbol. A drop-down menu appears.
4. Click More Symbols. A dialog box appears.
5. If necessary, click the Symbols tab.
6. Select (normal text) from the Font drop-down menu and then Greek and Coptic from the Subset menu. You could also select the Symbol font.
7. Click the Beta symbol.
8. Click Insert.
9. Click Close.

The Insert Symbol dialog box displays the Beta symbol (Β or β) when you select normal text as the font and Greek and Coptic from the Subset menu:

2. Using an Alt keyboard shortcut to insert the Beta symbol

You can press the Alt key in combination with numbers on the numeric keypad to insert the Beta symbol:

• Press Alt + 946 to enter lower case Beta (β)
• Press Alt + 914 to enter upper case or capital letter Beta (Β)

If the sequence doesn't work, press the NumLock key on the numeric keypad.

If you don't have a numeric keypad, you may be able to press the Fn key and access the numbers at the top of your keyboard.

3. Creating a custom keyboard shortcut for Beta

You can also create your own keyboard shortcut for Beta. The easiest method is to access Shortcuts using the Insert Symbol dialog box.

To create your own keyboard shortcut for Beta:

1. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
2. In the Symbols group, click Symbol. A drop-down menu appears.
3. Select More Symbols. A dialog box appears.
4. If necessary, click the Symbols tab.
5. Select (normal text) from the Font drop-down menu and then Greek and Coptic from the Subset menu. Alternatively, you could select the Symbol font.
6. Click the Beta symbol.
7. Click Shortcut. A dialog box appears.
8. Click in the Press new shortcut key box.
9. Press the keys you want to use (for example, press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + B). If the keyboard shortcut is assigned to another command, Word will display it so you can decide if you want replace it.
10. Click Assign.
11. Click Close twice.

To insert the character, press the keys you assigned.

These shortcuts are typically saved in the Normal (default) template. When you close Word, you should be prompted to save the Normal template. Be sure to click Save.

The Customize Keyboard dialog box appears as follows:

4. Inserting the Beta symbol by switching to the Symbol font

You can use the Symbol font to insert Greek letters or symbols in Word documents.

To insert letters or symbols using the Symbol font:

1. Click in the location in the document where you want to insert the letter or symbol.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Q to switch to the Symbol font.
3. Type the character to insert the required letter or symbol.

The Greek characters correspond to standard characters. For example, if you type b or B, Word enters Beta in lower case or upper case. Note that this works for one character only and then the font changes back to the normal font.

5. Inserting the Beta symbol Using AutoCorrect for Math

Another way to insert the Beta symbol is to turn on the Math AutoCorrect outside of math regions and then type specific sequences to insert the symbol in your Word document (outside of equation blocks).

To turn on AutoCorrect for Math to use in all areas in Word:

1. Click the File tab in the Ribbon.
2. Click Options. A dialog box appears.
3. In the categories on the left, click Proofing.
4. Click AutoCorrect Options in the pane on the right. A dialog box appears.
5. Click the Math AutoCorrect tab.
6. Select or check Use Math AutoCorrect rules outside of math regions.
7. Click OK twice.

To enter Beta, type \beta or \Beta and then press the Spacebar.

6. Entering the Beta symbol in equation blocks or placeholders

To enter the Beta symbol in an equation block or placeholder:

1. Click in the document where you want to enter an equation.
2. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
3. In the Symbols group, click Equation to insert a new equation block or placeholder. Alternatively, type Alt + equal sign (=). You can also use an existing equation block or placeholder.
4. Click in the equation block or placeholder and type a backslash (\) plus the name of the symbol (such as \beta or \Beta) and then press the Spacebar.

When you are in an equation block, you can also click the Equation tab in the Ribbon and select the Beta symbol in the Symbols group:

1. Click in an equation block or placeholder.
2. Click the Equation tab in the Ribbon.
3. Click the More arrow on the bottom right of the Symbols gallery.
4. At the top of the Symbols gallery, select the drop-down menu (typically, this displays Basic Math).
5. Select Greek Letters from the drop-down menu.
6. Click the Beta symbol.

The Greek symbols appear in the Symbols gallery on the Equations tab in the Ribbon:

You can enter other Greek characters using the same tools.

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