MS-Word converting plain text to math has problem with minus (dash)

[GeorgeKerscher]

eDAD tracking ticket for this issue is Accessibility 228599

While using alt + = is the best way to enter math expressions, the typing of simple math and then highlighting the text to convert with alt + = is supported

The "-" character is converted as a ndash instead of a minus sign.

Typing x -3= 4 andhighlighting and pressing alt + = yields unpredictable results. Sometimes it is minus and other times it is an ndash.

Will not convert properly.

[brichwin]

I've verified that when selecting normal text in a word document that represents a simple math expression and then pressing Alt+=, many of the various dash characters are not converted into a minus math operator.

I tested many of the characters that OCR engines (ABBYY Fine Reader, etc.) commonly generate when recognizing text with math expressions. Only the hyphen-minus character (002d) and the Unicode minus sign character (2212) appear to be recognized as the minus math operator when selected text is converted using Alt+=.

Here is a list of characters that are commonly generated by OCR engines that were not recognized:

• Figure Dash Character 2012
• En Dash Character 2013
• Em Dash Character 2014
• Nonbreaking Hyphen Character 2011

I tested this on:

• OS Version:
  -- OS Name: Microsoft Windows 11 Enterprise
  -- Version: 10.0.22621 Build 22621
  -- Locale: United States
• Microsoft Word Version:
  -- Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise
  -- Version 2402 (Build 17328.20452 Click-to-run)

Sample file:
various_math_operator_symbols.docx

[MurrayIII]

Alt+= on plain text converts the ASCII hyphen-dash (U+002D) into the math minus (U+2212) as it should. You can see this by typing Alt+x immediately following the minus sign: you get 2212. Interesting idea to convert other dashes via Alt+x. Problem is that the user might want to use them. With the ASCII hyphen-dash. it's pretty unambiguous that a minus is intended.

[GeorgeKerscher]

Hi,

When I type:

7 - 3 = x and then highlight it and press alt+= The - becomes an ndash and not a minus.

I wonder about Word settings and what characters that are converted by word similar to " being converted to beginning quotes and the following " being converted to end quotes.

[MurrayIII]

Surrounding the - with spaces causes this. If you type 7-3=x, i.e., without the spaces, selecting and Alt+= converts the dash to a minus (U+2212) and the math spacing is correct. In OneNote and PowerPoint, the conversion is to U+2212 with or without spaces, but the spaces aren't deleted. They should not appear since they cause poor math spacing. I don't have access to the Word code to figure out why Word converts the dash to U+2013 when the dash is surrounded by spaces.