How to type greek letters and equations into evernote or any other OSX application

Question

How can I type greek letters and mathematical equations into Evernote or any other OSX application?

Answer 1

Some might be available on your keyboard. Some might need to be inserted e.g. using Character Viewer.

Open System Preferences » Keyboard and check Show Keyboard & Character Viewer in menu bar.

You'll have a new status item to the right of the menu bar. From there, you can open the following:

• Keyboard Viewer lets you see all the characters you can press using your current keyboard layout. Press modifier keys (option and/or shift) to see which characters you type when these modifier keys are pressed. Pressing w while holding down option results in ∑ for me.

• Character Viewer shows you all (?) characters available on your system. Select a character and click Insert, or double-click the character to insert it in your current text box.

Answer 2

If you have the Input Sources menu item in your menu bar, you can switch to a Greek keyboard layout. Then, you can just type without the Option key and you have access to the full alphabet.

Answer 3

Depending on the complexity of your equations it might also be an idea to have a look at LaTeX and in specific the free application LaTeXiT which can provide a system-wide shortcut (via the "services" menu) to typeset formulas though LaTeX and insert them e.g. as a PDF.

This has been a lifesaver for me when I had to typeset sophisticated equations into Keynote and PowerPoint presentations!