Formatting Issues

How to Change the Color of an Equation Operator in Word on Mac

Steve K Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to change the color of a specific equation operator, such as a square root symbol, in Microsoft Word on a Mac.

How to Change the Color of an Equation Operator in Word for Mac

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Formatting mathematical equations within a document to match a specific style or color scheme.
Observed behavior: The inserted equation operator appears in an unwanted color, and the user is unable to locate the color adjustment settings within the Mac interface.

Before you start

Ensure your Word document is in 'Print Layout' view so you can clearly see formatting changes, and verify that you have full editing permissions for the document.

Solution 1Recommended

Change Operator Color via the Home Tab

The most direct way to fix an unwanted equation operator color is by using the standard font color tools on the Home ribbon.

Microsoft Word treats equations similarly to standard text when it comes to basic formatting. You can override default equation colors by applying a new font color directly to the selected symbols.

Select the Operator

Click inside the equation box and highlight only the specific operator you want to change, such as the square root symbol.

Open Font Color Options

Navigate to the 'Home' tab on the top ribbon and locate the 'Font Color' icon (represented by an 'A' with a colored bar underneath).

Apply the New Color

Click the drop-down arrow next to the Font Color icon and select black, or your preferred color, from the palette.

Selection Tip: If the color of the operator does not change independently, try highlighting the entire equation structure or bounding box before applying the new font color.

Solution 2

Adjust Document Theme Colors

If the equation operator color keeps reverting to an unwanted shade, it may be tied to the default theme colors of your Word document.

Document Formatting Tool

Easily Format Equations and Documents with WPS Office

WPS Office provides an intuitive Equation Editor that lets you seamlessly insert, edit, and customize mathematical operators, including changing their colors with just a few clicks.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing document or create a new one.
2. Insert an equation: Navigate to the Insert tab on the ribbon and click on 'Equation' to access the math editing tools.
3. Select the operator: Highlight the specific mathematical operator (like the square root) that you want to customize.
4. Change the color: Go to the Home tab and use the standard Text Color tool to apply your desired color to the operator.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsIntuitive and easy-to-use Equation EditorLightweight software that runs smoothly on Mac and WindowsFree alternative for comprehensive document formatting

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my equation operator turning blue automatically?

This usually happens when the document's style theme applies an accent color to math elements by default. Changing the theme colors in the Design tab or manually overriding the color from the Home tab will fix it.

Can I apply formatting to a specific part of an equation?

Yes. You can highlight just a specific number, variable, or operator within the equation bounding box and apply individual font colors, sizes, or styles without affecting the rest of the equation.

Does the color change affect the printed document?

Yes, any font color applied to your equation operators will appear when printed, provided you are using a color printer. If you are printing in black and white, the color will be converted to a grayscale shade.

Document & File Issues