# MS Word characters **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 14, 2006, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-characters/376428 "2006-10-14T14:19:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JustAnotherGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@JustAnotherGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustAnotherGeek)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2006, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-characters/376428/1 "2006-10-14T14:19:53Z")
If anyone can help me out, it’s the Teeming Millions. Is there a way to create a new character in MS Word? I am typing up some physics papers, and I am using a couple of symbols that, for one reason or another, have become quite complicated. Inserting pictures only kinda-sorta works. (And is a pain in the arse.) Is there a way to take this image and create my own character (or better yet, a font full of slightly different versions)? Alternatively, (or possibly even easier) is there a way to get a ~ (tilde) on top of a ‘k’? Thanks in advance, -Geek ---
**Author:** ![daffyduck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@daffyduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daffyduck)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2006, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-characters/376428/2 "2006-10-14T14:34:29Z")
[How to make fonts.](http://www.chank.com/howto/) ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2006, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-characters/376428/3 "2006-10-14T14:44:43Z")
I’ve never used it, but the Equation Editor might be helpful. ---
**Author:** ![JustAnotherGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@JustAnotherGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustAnotherGeek)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2006, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-characters/376428/4 "2006-10-14T15:00:44Z")
**daffyduck** , thanks for the link. Any idea how to do this without dropping $350 on new software? **Scarlett67** : Yup. In fact, I’ve downloaded (and paid up for the permanent version) of Math Type - which is an uber version of Equation Editor. I may have solved the problem by simply double spacing my doc. (The real issue when I put a symbol from MathType in line with the text is the spacing.) But, I am still wondering: isn’t there a command to put a tilde on top of any character you like? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2006, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-characters/376428/5 "2006-10-14T15:37:50Z")
[QUOTE=JustAnotherGeek] But, I am still wondering: isn’t there a command to put a tilde on top of any character you like? [/QUOTE] Macs have a key sequence that will put tildes over _a,e,i,o,u_ – but not consonants. With Windows, though, the “tilded” vowels are distinct characters that have to be accessed through ALT characters or through the Character Map. If you look around hard enough … you might – just might – find a special font out there containing the “tilded k”. Another solution: not 100% sure if Word allows this – it’s a Pagemaker & Quark trick. But you may be able to adjust the spacing between the tilde and the “k” to make them superimpose. If the tilde must be high up on the stem of the “k”, there may be features to allow you to “superscript” the tilde. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2006, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-characters/376428/6 "2006-10-14T15:39:23Z")
[QUOTE=bordelond] Macs have a key sequence that will put tildes over _a,e,i,o,u_ – but not consonants. [/QUOTE] Urp – you can put a tilde over an “n”, too :smack: ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2006, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-characters/376428/7 "2006-10-14T15:47:31Z")
Arial has these Slavonic characters: will these suffice for “tilded k”? Ќ ќ ---
**Author:** ![jormundgondir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@jormundgondir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jormundgondir)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2006, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-characters/376428/8 "2006-10-14T17:51:10Z")
Apparently there’s a utility hidden in Windows that allows you to design you own characters: [http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/privchar.htm](http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/privchar.htm) I made a twiddle K and was sticking it into Word docs in about 2 minutes (you’ll no doubt want a tidier one than mine though) , so this seems a very viable solution. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2006, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-characters/376428/9 "2006-10-14T18:02:56Z")
[QUOTE=jormundgondir] Apparently there’s a utility hidden in Windows that allows you to design you own characters: [http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/privchar.htm](http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/privchar.htm) I made a twiddle K and was sticking it into Word docs in about 2 minutes (you’ll no doubt want a tidier one than mine though) , so this seems a very viable solution. [/QUOTE] What a great link. I never knew about that. Evidently, it’s installed on Windows 2000 machines as well. ---
**Author:** ![JustAnotherGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@JustAnotherGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustAnotherGeek)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2006, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-characters/376428/10 "2006-10-14T18:59:24Z")
[QUOTE=jormundgondir] Apparently there’s a utility hidden in Windows that allows you to design you own characters: [http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/privchar.htm](http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/privchar.htm) I made a twiddle K and was sticking it into Word docs in about 2 minutes (you’ll no doubt want a tidier one than mine though) , so this seems a very viable solution. [/QUOTE] **Out-FRIGGIN-standing!!!** Thank you, **jormundgondir**! That is exactly what I was looking for! ::snoopy dance:: 😃😃