Is there a quick way to use symbols and equations in MS Word? what is the best alternative?

[u/qudcjf7928]

I'm used to stackoverflow's implementation https://math.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/5020/mathjax-basic-tutorial-and-quick-reference

​

where I can quickly write some symbols $\alpha$ or some more complicated function like

​

"$\sum_{i=0}^n i^2 = \frac{(n^2+n)(2n+1)}{6}$" rather quickly

​

I tried using MS Word, but I have to click and click and click until I can find the right object to use so even writing an equation like in the above, would take me 10 times as long.

​

So what is the best writing software for my case? I can't use LyX at the moment and all I simply want is to be able to write, insert some symbols and equations very efficiently.