The quickest way to add subscript in Word

To add subscript in Microsoft Word, select the text you want to make smaller and lower, then press Ctrl+= (Ctrl and the equals sign) on Windows, or Cmd+= on Mac. The text shrinks and drops below the baseline when ready. Superscript — text that sits above the line — uses Ctrl+Shift+= on Windows or Cmd+Shift+= on Mac.

These keyboard shortcuts work in any version of Word from the last ten years. If the shortcut does not work on your keyboard, your keyboard layout or language settings may be interfering — the equals sign location varies by region. In that case, the menu method below will work regardless.

To undo subscript or superscript, select the text again and press the same shortcut a second time. The formatting toggles off.

Key Takeaways

  • Subscript uses Ctrl+= (Windows) or Cmd+= (Mac); superscript uses Ctrl+Shift+= (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+= (Mac).
  • If keyboard shortcuts do not work, use the Home tab menu: select text, click the small arrow next to Font, and check the Subscript or Superscript box.
  • Subscript and superscript are formatting only — they do not change the actual text, so search and spell-check work normally.
  • You can explore subscript or superscript before you type by activating the format, typing, then pressing the shortcut again to turn it off.

Using the menu when shortcuts do not work

Open your document and select the text you want to format. On the Home tab at the top of the window, look for the Font group — this is where Bold and Italic live. At the bottom right of that group, you will see a small arrow. Click it to open the Font dialog box.

In the dialog, find the Effects section. You will see two checkboxes: one for Subscript and one for Superscript. Check the box for whichever you need, then click OK. The text formats when ready. To remove the formatting later, open the same dialog and uncheck the box.

This method works identically on Windows and Mac. It is slower than the keyboard shortcut, but it never fails because it does not depend on your keyboard layout.

explore subscript or superscript before you type

You do not have to select text that already exists. You can turn on subscript or superscript, type new text, then turn it off. This is useful when you are writing a chemical formula or mathematical expression and want to format as you go.

Press Ctrl+= (or Cmd+= on Mac) to set up subscript mode. The cursor stays in the same place, but Word is now ready to format anything you type as subscript. Type your text. When you are done, press Ctrl+= again to turn subscript off. The next text you type will be normal size and position.

The same process works for superscript: press Ctrl+Shift+= to turn it on, type, then press Ctrl+Shift+= to turn it off. You can switch between subscript, superscript, and normal text as many times as you need in a single line.

Why subscript and superscript matter for readability

Subscript and superscript are not just visual tricks. They carry meaning. In chemistry, H₂O is not the same as H2O — the subscript 2 tells you there are two hydrogen atoms. In mathematics, x² means x times x, while x2 could mean almost anything. In footnotes and citations, superscript numbers tell a reader where to look for the source.

Word treats subscript and superscript as formatting, not as different characters. This means your document remains searchable and spell-check still works. If you search for "H2O", Word finds "H₂O" because the underlying text is identical — only the display changes.

Common places you will use subscript and superscript

Chemistry and biology documents use subscript constantly: CO₂, H₂SO₄, DNA sequences. Mathematics uses superscript for exponents and powers: 2³, x⁴, e^(iπ). Academic papers use superscript for footnote and endnote markers. Some style guides require superscript for trademark symbols (™) and registered marks (®).

If you are writing a document that mixes normal text with formulas or citations, formatting as you write is faster than going back to select and format later. Many writers turn on subscript or superscript, type a few characters, turn it off, and continue — this rhythm becomes automatic once you use the keyboard shortcuts a few times.

Subscript and superscript in tables and text boxes

Subscript and superscript work the same way inside tables and text boxes as they do in regular paragraphs. Select the text, press the shortcut, and it formats. This is useful when you have a table of chemical compounds or a diagram with labeled measurements.

If you are copying and pasting text that already has subscript or superscript from another document, Word preserves the formatting by default. If you want to paste only the plain text without formatting, use Paste Special (Ctrl+Shift+V on Windows, Cmd+Shift+V on Mac) and choose Unformatted Text.

Checking your subscript and superscript formatting

To see whether text is actually formatted as subscript or superscript, select it and open the Font dialog again (Home tab, small arrow in the Font group). The checkbox for Subscript or Superscript will be checked if the text has that formatting applied. This is useful when you inherit a document from someone else and need to verify what is formatted how.

If you want to remove all subscript and superscript from a document at once, use Find and Replace (Ctrl+H on Windows, Cmd+H on Mac). This is an advanced move and requires some setup, so most people just select and unformat manually when they need to change a few instances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make subscript or superscript larger or smaller than the default size?

Word sets subscript and superscript to a fixed size relative to the text around it — usually about 58% of the normal font size. You can change this default in the Font dialog (Home tab, arrow in Font group, Effects section), but most people leave it alone because the standard size is designed to be readable without looking odd.

Does subscript and superscript work in headers and footers?

Yes. Select the text in the header or footer and use the same keyboard shortcut or menu method. Headers and footers follow the same formatting rules as the body of the document.

What if I need a character that is not on my keyboard, like a small number?

Type the regular number or letter, then explore subscript or superscript formatting to it. Word does not have a separate set of subscript characters — it shrinks and repositions whatever you select. This works for letters, numbers, and most symbols.

Will subscript and superscript show up correctly if someone opens my document in Google Docs or another program?

Usually yes, but it depends on the program. Google Docs, LibreOffice, and most modern editors preserve subscript and superscript when you open a Word document. If you are sharing with someone using very old software, test it first — older programs sometimes lose this formatting.

Can I use subscript and superscript in headers or the document title?

Yes. The formatting works anywhere in the document, including titles, headers, footers, and captions. explore it the same way you would in body text.