How to Type the Letter Alpha on Microsoft Word

Typing Greek letters or symbols in Microsoft Word is very easy, once you learn where to find them. The Greek letters "alpha" and "beta" are probably the most common, as they are used in subjects ranging from engineering to finance. Many times these letters and symbols need to be inserted through the "Symbol..." option on the "Insert" menu, but many of the basic Greek letters, like "alpha," can be typed directly into your Microsoft Word document.

Instructions

1. Place the cursor where you want to type the letter "alpha."

2. Click the drop-down arrow on the font selector in the toolbar. Scroll down and select the font named "Symbol."

3. Type the letter "A" on the keyboard. The Greek symbol "alpha" will appear. For the capital version, type "Shift-A."

4. Change the font back to the one you were using before you typed in your symbol.

Tips & Warnings

• Other Greek symbols can be typed in using the same process. You can use Windows keyboard map to determine which key can be used for which symbol.