Using Math Symbols in InDesign

If you’re working on a document that contains any kind of math in the text, even just dimensions like “8.5 × 11,” you should be using the correct math symbols. You wouldn’t use inch marks where quotation marks are needed, right? So don’t use a lowercase x when you need a multiplication sign, which looks much different in most fonts (especially serifs).

See the difference?

Ditto for minus signs, which are usually much wider than the hyphens that sometimes get used instead.

Likewise, multiplication dots are found in most commercial fonts, and are usually a lot smaller than a standard bullet character.

Use InDesign’s Glyphs panel and choose Show: Math Symbols to see all your options in the font you’re using. Some fonts include lots of math glyphs. For example, Neutraface gives you six versions of each of the basic math symbols.

Case-sensitive glyphs like the parentheses in the bottom example below can also make for better looking math. In this case, standard parentheses are too low and not vertically centered on the numbers.

Need a math symbol that’s not in any of your current fonts? Check out STIX fonts (available for free download at their website or at Adobe Fonts), which contain thousands of math glyphs.