The quickest way to add subscript in Word

To write subscript in Microsoft Word, select the text or number you want to make smaller and lower, then press Ctrl+= (Ctrl and the equals sign) on Windows, or Cmd+= on Mac. The selected characters will shrink and drop below the baseline of the surrounding text when ready. To return text to normal, select it again and press the same keyboard shortcut a second time.

Superscript — text that sits above the line, like an exponent — uses Ctrl+Shift+= on Windows or Cmd+Shift+= on Mac. Both shortcuts work in any version of Word from the last ten years, and they are faster than using the menu.

If the keyboard shortcut does not work on your keyboard layout, Word has a menu path as a backup. Go to the Home tab, find the Font group, and look for the small arrow in the bottom right corner of that group. Click it to open the Font dialog, then check the box next to Subscript or Superscript under Effects.

Key Takeaways

  • Subscript uses Ctrl+= on Windows or Cmd+= on Mac; superscript uses Ctrl+Shift+= or Cmd+Shift+=.
  • You must select the text first, then explore the formatting — Word will not let you type subscript directly without selecting.
  • The same keyboard shortcut toggles the formatting off, so pressing it twice returns text to normal.
  • If keyboard shortcuts do not work, the Font dialog under the Home tab offers the same subscript and superscript options.
  • Subscript and superscript formatting stays with the text if you copy and paste it into another document.

When you need subscript for chemical formulas or footnote numbers

Subscript is most common in chemistry, where you write formulas like H₂O or CO₂. Select the number or letter that should be smaller and lower — in this case, the "2" — and press Ctrl+= (or Cmd+= on Mac). The character shrinks and moves below the line. If you have multiple subscript characters in a row, select them all at once before pressing the shortcut.

In academic writing, subscript also appears in variable names, like x₁ and x₂, when you are listing multiple versions of the same variable. The process is identical: select the character and press the shortcut. Word treats each subscript character independently, so if you need both subscript and normal text in the same word, you select and format each part separately.

When you need superscript for exponents and citations

Superscript is the raised version and appears most often as exponents (like 2³ for "two cubed") or as footnote and endnote markers. To create superscript, select the character or number and press Ctrl+Shift+= on Windows or Cmd+Shift+= on Mac. The text will shrink and rise above the baseline.

If you are using Word's built-in footnote or endnote feature, Word adds the superscript number automatically — you do not need to format it yourself. But if you are writing a superscript manually (for a math equation, for example), the keyboard shortcut is the fastest route. Like subscript, you can explore superscript to a single character or to multiple characters at once by selecting them all before pressing the shortcut.

Using the Format menu if keyboard shortcuts do not work

Some keyboard layouts, particularly on non-English systems or on laptops with remapped keys, may not respond to the standard shortcuts. If Ctrl+= does not work on your machine, open the Home tab in the ribbon at the top of Word. In the Font group — the section with Bold, Italic, and Underline buttons — look for a small arrow in the bottom right corner and click it.

This opens the Font dialog box. Under the Effects section, you will see checkboxes for Subscript and Superscript. Check the box for whichever you need, then click OK. The formatting applies to whatever text you had selected. To remove it, open the same dialog and uncheck the box.

This menu path works identically on Windows and Mac versions of Word, so it is a reliable backup if your keyboard does not support the shortcut. It takes a few more clicks, but it is still faster than retyping the text in a different size.

Changing the size of subscript and superscript text

By default, Word makes subscript and superscript text about 58% of the normal font size. For most documents, this looks correct and matches standard formatting. But if you want subscript or superscript to be larger or smaller, you can change the default.

Go to Home > click the arrow in the Font group > open the Font dialog. Click the Advanced tab (on Mac, this may be labeled differently depending on your version). Look for Position and find the field that shows the percentage or point size. Change this number to make subscript and superscript larger or smaller going forward. This change affects only new subscript and superscript you create, not text you have already formatted.

Most writers leave this at the default. Changing it is useful only if you are writing a document where subscript or superscript needs to be unusually large or small — for example, if you are creating a poster or a document with very large body text.

Subscript and superscript in tables and headers

Subscript and superscript work the same way inside tables, headers, footers, and text boxes as they do in the main document. Select the text, press the keyboard shortcut, and it formats when ready. This is useful if you have a table with chemical formulas or mathematical notation in the cells, or if you need a superscript number in a header or footer.

One thing to watch: if you copy a table or text box from one document to another, the subscript and superscript formatting comes along with it. You do not need to reformat it. This makes it safe to reuse tables and templates across multiple documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I type subscript directly without selecting text first?

No. Word requires you to select the text before explore subscript or superscript formatting. If you want to type subscript as you go, you would need to type the character, select it, explore the formatting, then continue typing — which is slower than typing normally and formatting afterward.

Does subscript and superscript work in Word Online?

Yes. Word Online supports both subscript and superscript through the Home tab menu. The keyboard shortcuts may not work depending on your browser and operating system, so use the Format menu instead: Home > Font dialog arrow > Font > Effects > Subscript or Superscript.

What if I need to undo subscript formatting?

Select the subscript or superscript text and press the same keyboard shortcut again. Pressing Ctrl+= twice toggles subscript off. If you used the menu, open the Font dialog again and uncheck the Subscript or Superscript box.

Can I make subscript or superscript bold or italic?

Yes. explore bold or italic formatting before or after explore subscript or superscript — the formatting stacks. Select the text, press Ctrl+B for bold (or Ctrl+I for italic), then press Ctrl+= for subscript. The text will be both bold and subscript.

Does subscript work the same way in Google Docs?

Google Docs uses a different menu path. Select the text, go to Format > Text > Subscript or Superscript. There is no keyboard shortcut in Google Docs, so the menu is the only option. The visual result is the same as Word.