How to edit after converting LaTeX to Word: Key points for modifying formulas and text

Key points of this article

First determine whether the formula is an editable object or an image one by one. The modification methods of the two are completely different.
Text styles are set uniformly using paragraph styles, which is faster and less error-prone than manually changing the font size paragraph by paragraph.
References such as formula numbers and "as shown in formula (3)" often become fixed text after conversion and require full text verification.
Before handing it over, check key formulas against the source file and confirm fonts and pagination on another computer.

After converting papers, handouts or reports written in LaTeX into Word, many people find that the real trouble lies in the latter part: formulas are misplaced, numbers are lost, references become dead text, and the reference format may also be messed up. Conversion is only the first step. The next step is to change the file to the point where it can be submitted and sent to instructors or colleagues.

This article is for those who have already obtained the Word file and need to continue to modify it. For the conversion method, see our LaTeX to Word article and will not repeat it here. After reading it, you will be able to judge whether each formula can be modified directly, know in what order the text, numbering and layout should be processed, and what should be checked before handing it over.

How to edit after converting LaTeX to Word? One sentence conclusion

First determine the type of formula, and then decide on the modification method: formulas that can be double-clicked to enter the editing state can be modified directly, but formulas that can only be selected as pictures require another method. Text and format problems can usually be solved in batches after unifying the style, while numbering and citations need to be checked one by one.

your situation	Recommended practices	reason
The formula can be clicked to edit.	Directly modify symbols, superscripts, subscripts and brackets	Keep the formula as editable and you can continue to adjust it later
The formula is a picture, you can’t click on it	Retype it using the Word equation editor, or go back to the source file and convert it again.	The content of the picture cannot be modified. Changing the picture will only make it more messy.
The text is basically correct, but the format is inconsistent.	Unify paragraph styles first, then check paragraph by paragraph	After the style is unified, one change will be made and the whole text will be synchronized.
Numbering, citations, and references display abnormally	Manually correct against source files or reconstruct using captions and cross-references	After conversion, these contents often become fixed text

Before you start: Confirm these points first

Confirm file source. In files transferred from LaTeX source code, the formula structure is usually better preserved; in files transferred from PDF, more formulas may be pictures or approximate text, and the amount of verification will be much larger.
Prepare source PDF or .tex file for comparison. Without the original manuscript, it is difficult to judge whether a superscript is missing, and it is also difficult to confirm the position of the upper and lower limits.
Check font. Common mathematical fonts and Chinese fonts in papers may be missing on other people’s computers, which will affect line breaks and formula display.
Note the submission requirements. Page margins, font size, line spacing, and reference format are usually specified by the journal or school. Write it down first to avoid complete rework after making changes.

Steps to modify formulas and text in Word

Save another copy first. Keep the converted original, you can roll it back if it’s changed, and it’s also convenient for comparison later.
Click the formula one by one to determine the type. The formulas that can enter the formula editing state are editable formulas; those that can only be selected as a whole and cannot be modified internally should be written down separately and processed collectively later.
Modify the editable formula. Change the symbols, superscripts and subscripts, fractions and parentheses in the formula, and compare it with the source file once. Font commands such as \mathbf and \mathcal in LaTeX may be displayed as ordinary fonts after conversion and need to be set manually.
Process formulas in picture form. Short formulas can be retyped using the Word formula editor; for large numbers or complex structures, it is recommended to return to the .tex source file and convert again. You can also work with formulas in UniDoc Page Editor, which supports formula editing and conversion back and forth between Word and LaTeX.
Use paragraph styles to unify text. Set styles for the main text, titles at all levels, abstracts, and table captions respectively. Do not manually change the font size paragraph by paragraph, otherwise it will be difficult to maintain later.
Check numbers and references. If the formula number, chart number, and chapter number have become fixed text, modify them manually or rebuild them using the caption function; references such as "as shown in formula (3)" in the text must be updated simultaneously.
Adjust the form and layout. Adjust the column width when the table exceeds the page margin; add appropriate paragraph spacing before and after formulas and tables that span two pages to avoid breaking in the middle.
Finally unify the page settings. Page margins, headers and footers, and page numbers are set according to the submission requirements, and confirm that the fonts have been embedded or changed to universal fonts.

Check each item after completion

Once the file has been modified, don’t rush to send it out. The following checklist can be reviewed item by item, especially the results of machine conversion. Errors are often hidden in the details and require manual verification.

Check item	What do you think?	What if there's a problem?
Formula content	Compare it with the source PDF or .tex one by one, focusing on superscripts, upper and lower bounds, and matrix	Correct within the formula, or re-copy from the source file
Formula number and citation	Randomly check several "formula (n)" to see if the number is correct.	Manually renumber, or rebuild captions and cross-references
Symbols and fonts	Check whether the bold vector, floral letters and Greek letters are correct.	Set the font manually and type it again with the formula editor if necessary
reference	Compare the citation serial number with the number of entries to see whether the author, year and journal fields are complete.	Unify the entry format and complete the fields one by one
Pages and pagination	Turn the whole page to see if the formula is truncated and whether the table is out of place.	Adjust paragraph spacing and manually page before and after the formula if necessary
Another computer is turned on.	Open it on a computer that does not have the same font and see line breaks and formula display	Embed fonts, or switch to generic fonts

# frequently asked questions (FAQ)

1. Why can't the converted formula be edited?

The common reason is that the formula is saved as a picture during conversion. Whether you can edit it depends on the conversion method and the structure of the source file. You can go back to the .tex source file and retype it, or you can retype it with the formula editor.

2. Why does the formula number and "as shown in formula (3)" not match?

After conversion, the number may be fixed text, after deleting or adding a formula, the subsequent number will not change automatically. After the revision, all references should be checked in full, not just the one that has been changed.

3. Can I transfer the Word file back to LaTeX?

Sure. UniDoc Page Editor supports round-trip conversion between Word and LaTeX. Also check the formula and number before turning back, because the format may change again during the round trip.

4. What if the format of the references is out of order?

First confirm which format is required for submission, and then unify the author, year, journal and other fields of each entry. It is not enough to change the display style, make sure that each piece of data is complete.

# Summary

LaTeX to Word after how to edit, the key is to first determine whether the formula can be directly modified, and then unify the text style, and then check the number and quotation, and finally check the layout and font. If you deal with it in this order, there will be much less rework.

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