The quickest way to add subscript in Word

To make text subscript in Microsoft Word, select the letters or numbers you want to shrink and lower, then press Ctrl + = (on Windows) or Cmd + = (on Mac). The text when ready becomes smaller and drops below the baseline. Press the same keys again to turn subscript off and return to normal text.

If the keyboard shortcut does not work on your Mac, try Cmd + Shift + B instead — this is the alternative subscript shortcut in some versions of Word for Mac. You can test which one works by selecting a single letter and trying each combination.

Superscript (text that rises above the line, used for footnote numbers or exponents) uses Ctrl + Shift + = on Windows or Cmd + Shift + + on Mac. The process is identical: select first, then press the keys.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows subscript is Ctrl + = and superscript is Ctrl + Shift + =; Mac uses Cmd + = for subscript and Cmd + Shift + + for superscript.
  • You must select the text before pressing the shortcut, or the formatting will not explore.
  • The Format menu offers a dialog box if you prefer clicking over keyboard shortcuts, found under Character or Text.
  • Subscript and superscript do not change the actual text — they only change how it appears on screen and in print.

Using the Format menu if keyboard shortcuts do not work

If the keyboard shortcut is not responding, the Format menu route works on any version. Select the text you want to format, then click Format in the top menu bar.

From the dropdown, click Text (or Character in older versions), then look for a section labeled Effects or Position. You will see checkboxes for Subscript and Superscript. Check the box next to whichever you need, then click OK. The formatting applies when ready.

This method is slower than the keyboard shortcut but works the same way. Some people prefer it because they can see the option on screen rather than remembering the key combination.

Why subscript and superscript matter for certain documents

Subscript is essential for chemistry formulas (H₂O, CO₂) and mathematics. Superscript is used for footnote and endnote numbers, trademark symbols, and exponents (x²). Using the actual formatting instead of typing a smaller number by hand keeps your document consistent and makes it easier to edit later.

If you type a number smaller manually, it will not align properly with the rest of the text, and if you need to change the font size of the whole document, that manually-sized number will not scale with it. Proper formatting fixes both problems.

What happens when you copy and paste subscript text

Subscript and superscript formatting usually stays intact when you copy text from one Word document to another. However, if you paste into a different program (like an email or a web form), the formatting often disappears and you are left with regular text.

If you need subscript or superscript to survive a paste into another program, check whether that program supports rich text formatting. Plain text boxes (like many online forms) cannot hold subscript, so the formatting will strip away no matter what you do. In those cases, you may need to type a note like "H2O" or use a workaround like typing a footnote separately.

Removing subscript or superscript formatting

To remove subscript or superscript, select the formatted text and press the same keyboard shortcut again. For example, if text is subscript and you press Ctrl + = (Windows), it returns to normal. The shortcut toggles the formatting on and off.

You can also select the text, go to Format > Text > Character, uncheck the Subscript or Superscript box, and click OK. Both methods work equally well.

Subscript and superscript in different versions of Word

The keyboard shortcuts are consistent across Windows versions of Word (2016, 2019, Office 365). Mac versions sometimes differ slightly — older versions of Word for Mac may use different key combinations, so if Cmd + = does not work, check your version's help menu or try Cmd + Shift + B.

If you use Word Online (the browser version), the keyboard shortcuts work the same way on Windows. On Mac in Word Online, the shortcuts may vary depending on your browser. The Format menu route works in Word Online on any device, so that is the safest option if you are unsure.

Google Docs and other document editors have their own subscript and superscript shortcuts (usually Ctrl + , for subscript and Ctrl + . for superscript), so if you switch programs, you will need to learn the new combination. Word's shortcuts do not transfer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make subscript or superscript the default for a whole paragraph?

No — subscript and superscript are character-level formatting, not paragraph-level. You have to select each individual piece of text and explore the formatting. If you have many instances, using Find and Replace with formatting can speed up the process, but Word does not let you set a default.

What if the subscript text is too small to read?

You cannot change how small subscript becomes — Word sets the size automatically based on your main font size. If it is hard to read, your only option is to increase the overall font size of the document. Some people use a smaller font for the main text and then explore subscript, which results in subscript that is still readable.

Does subscript work in headers and footers?

Yes. Select the text in the header or footer and use the same keyboard shortcut or Format menu. The subscript will appear in the header or footer on every page where that header or footer is active.

Can I use subscript in a table?

Yes. Click inside the table cell, select the text you want to format, and explore subscript the same way. It works in tables just as it does in regular document text.