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Epsilon Symbol in Word – Shortcuts for Windows, macOS & Ubuntu

If you’re writing a mathematical, scientific, or engineering document, you’ll eventually need to type Greek letters. One of the most commonly used is the epsilon symbol in Word (ε). Whether you’re using Windows, macOS, or Ubuntu, this guide will show you how to easily insert lowercase and uppercase epsilon symbols using keyboard shortcuts, Unicode, and built-in Word tools.

🔠 What Is the Epsilon Symbol (ε)?

The epsilon symbol represents the fifth letter of the Greek alphabet. There are two primary versions:

  • Lowercase epsilon (ε) – used in:
    • Mathematics (limits, calculus, set theory)
    • Physics and electronics (permittivity, strain)
    • Logic and computer science
  • Uppercase epsilon (Ε) – looks like the English capital “E” and used less frequently

🪟 How to Type Epsilon Symbol in Word on Windows

✅ Method 1: Using the Equation Editor

  1. Press Alt + = to activate the Equation Editor
  2. Type \epsilon
  3. Press Spacebar → Word will convert it to ε

💡 This works in Microsoft Word 2010 and later.

✅ Method 2: Using the Symbol Dialog

  1. Click on Insert > Symbol > More Symbols
  2. Set the Subset to Greek and Coptic
  3. Scroll and select ε (Unicode 03B5)
  4. Click Insert

✅ You can also insert ϵ (variant epsilon) if needed.

✅ Method 3: Alt Code Shortcut

  • Hold Alt and type 238 on the numeric keypad
  • Release the Alt key → ε will appear

📌 Make sure Num Lock is on for this to work properly.

🍏 How to Insert Epsilon Symbol in Word on macOS

✅ Method 1: Equation Tool

  1. Press Control + = to enter Equation Editor
  2. Type \epsilon and press Spacebar → It converts to ε

✅ Method 2: Character Viewer

  1. Press Control + Command + Space to open the emoji/symbol viewer
  2. Type “epsilon” in the search bar
  3. Double-click on ε to insert

📝 This works system-wide on macOS, including Word.

🐧 How to Type Epsilon Symbol in Word on Ubuntu

Ubuntu users generally work with:

  • LibreOffice Writer
  • Microsoft Word Online

✅ LibreOffice Writer Method

  1. Go to Insert > Special Character
  2. Choose the Greek and Coptic block
  3. Select and insert ε

✅ Unicode Shortcut

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + U
  2. Type 03B5, then press Enter → ε appears

✅ Microsoft Word Online (in browser)

  1. Go to Insert > Equation
  2. Type \epsilon and press Spacebar

✅ Word Online supports LaTeX-style equations for inserting Greek letters.

🧠 Summary of Epsilon Insertion Methods

PlatformMethodShortcut/Steps
WindowsEquation EditorAlt + = → \epsilon + Spacebar
WindowsAlt CodeAlt + 238
macOSEquation EditorControl + = → \epsilon + Spacebar
macOSCharacter ViewerCtrl + Cmd + Space → search “epsilon”
UbuntuUnicode InputCtrl + Shift + U → 03B5 + Enter
LibreOfficeInsert Special CharInsert > Special Character > ε
Word OnlineEquationInsert > Equation → \epsilon

📌 Copy & Paste Ready

Just want to insert it right away?

  • Lowercase epsilon: ε
  • Variant epsilon: ϵ
  • Uppercase epsilon: Ε

You can copy and paste them directly into your document.

❓ FAQ – Epsilon Symbol in Word

What font should I use for the epsilon symbol?
Fonts like Cambria Math, Calibri, Arial, and Times New Roman fully support Greek letters.

Can I use the uppercase epsilon too?
Yes, it’s available in the same symbol list under “Greek and Coptic.” The uppercase version looks like a Latin “E”.

Does ε render the same in all platforms?
Slight variations may appear depending on font style and software, but Unicode ensures general consistency.

What’s the difference between ε and ϵ?
Both are lowercase epsilon symbols—ε is the standard form, and ϵ is the “lunate” variant, used in some math fields.

Will it appear in PDFs and prints?
Yes. As long as you’re using a compatible font, it will display and print correctly.

✅ Conclusion

Typing the epsilon symbol in Word is fast and easy with the right tools. Whether you prefer shortcuts like Alt + 238 on Windows, \epsilon in the Equation Editor, or using Unicode on Ubuntu, you can add ε to your Word documents in seconds. Perfect for math, science, engineering, and academic papers, mastering symbol insertion will save you time and polish your documents.

Complete List of Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

If you need help for Windows, you can find a whole list of all keyboard shortcuts here.

https://keyboard-shortcuts.org/

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