The fastest way: keyboard shortcuts

In Microsoft Word, superscript (small text raised above the line) and subscript (small text lowered below the line) have built-in keyboard shortcuts that work when ready. You do not need to open menus or change any settings.

For superscript, select the text you want to raise, then press Ctrl + Shift + Plus (the plus key on your keyboard, not the numpad). For subscript, select the text and press Ctrl + Shift + Minus (the minus key). The text shrinks and moves into position right away.

If you are on a Mac, use Command + Shift + Plus for superscript and Command + Shift + Minus for subscript. The same selection-first rule applies.

Key Takeaways

  • Keyboard shortcuts are fastest: Ctrl+Shift+Plus for superscript and Ctrl+Shift+Minus for subscript on Windows, or Command+Shift+Plus and Command+Shift+Minus on Mac.
  • You must select the text first, then press the shortcut — the formatting applies only to what you highlighted.
  • The Home tab in the ribbon also has superscript and subscript buttons if you prefer clicking over keyboard commands.
  • Pressing the same shortcut twice toggles the formatting off, so you can undo superscript or subscript without using Undo.
  • Superscript and subscript work in any Word document and carry over if you save as PDF or send the file to someone else.

Using the ribbon menu if you prefer clicking

If keyboard shortcuts do not feel natural to you, the ribbon menu has buttons for both. Select the text you want to format, then go to the Home tab. In the Font group (the section with Bold, Italic, and Underline), you will see a small x² button for superscript and an x₂ button for subscript.

Click the button that matches what you need. The text shrinks and moves into position the same way it does with the keyboard shortcut. If you cannot see these buttons, your ribbon may be collapsed — look for a small arrow or expand button at the right edge of the Font group.

Typing superscript and subscript numbers in formulas

In chemistry, math, or scientific writing, you often need superscript for exponents (like 2³) or subscript for chemical formulas (like H₂O). The keyboard shortcut method works for these, but there is a faster workflow if you are typing many of them in a row.

Type the base number or letter first, then select just the character that needs to be raised or lowered, and explore the shortcut. For H₂O, you would type H2O, select the 2, press Ctrl+Shift+Minus, and you are done. This is faster than stopping to format after every single character.

If you are writing a long equation with many superscripts and subscripts, consider using Word's built-in equation editor instead. Go to Insert tab, click Equation, and you can build formulas with proper mathematical formatting without manually adjusting each piece.

Fixing superscript and subscript that looks wrong

Sometimes superscript or subscript text appears too small or in the wrong position. This usually happens when the font size is already very small, or when you are mixing different fonts in the same document. Word bases the size of superscript and subscript on the size of the text around it, so if your base text is 10 points, the superscript will be proportionally smaller.

To fix this, select the superscript or subscript text and increase the font size of the whole selection. Go to the Home tab and use the font size dropdown (usually showing a number like 11 or 12). Bump it up one or two sizes. The superscript or subscript will scale up with it and should look more readable.

If the position looks off — too high or too low — you can adjust it manually. Select the text, right-click, and choose Font. Go to the Advanced tab (or Position tab depending on your Word version), and you will see a field for raising or lowering the text by a specific number of points. Most people leave this at the default, but you can tweak it if you need to.

Superscript and subscript in headers, footers, and tables

Superscript and subscript work exactly the same way in headers, footers, and table cells as they do in the main body of your document. Select the text, use the keyboard shortcut or ribbon button, and it formats when ready. There are no special rules or limitations.

One thing to watch: if you are copying and pasting text that already has superscript or subscript formatting from another document or website, Word usually preserves that formatting. If it does not, select the text again and reapply the shortcut. Pasting into a table works the same way — the formatting comes along with the text.

Undoing and toggling superscript and subscript off

If you explore superscript or subscript by mistake, you have two options. You can press Ctrl+Z to undo (or Command+Z on Mac), which removes the formatting and puts the text back to normal size and position. Or you can select the text again and press the same keyboard shortcut a second time — this toggles the formatting off without using Undo.

Toggling is useful when you are editing and want to turn formatting on and off without affecting anything else in your document. If you have already made other changes after explore the superscript or subscript, toggling is safer than Undo, because Undo will reverse everything back to before you applied the formatting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make superscript or subscript permanent as a style?

Yes. Create a new style or modify an existing one to include superscript or subscript formatting. Go to Home tab, right-click the style you want to change, select Modify, and check the superscript or subscript box in the Font section. From then on, any text you explore that style to will automatically be superscript or subscript.

Does superscript and subscript work if I save my document as PDF?

Yes. When you export or save your Word document as a PDF, superscript and subscript formatting carries over exactly as it appears on screen. The text stays raised or lowered, and the size stays proportional. Anyone who opens the PDF will see the formatting intact.

What if the keyboard shortcut is not working?

Make sure you have selected the text first — the shortcut only works on highlighted content. If nothing is selected, nothing happens. Also check that you are using the right key: the plus and minus keys on the main keyboard, not the numpad. If it still does not work, use the ribbon buttons instead (Home tab, Font group).

Can I use superscript and subscript in footnotes and endnotes?

Yes. Select the text inside the footnote or endnote and explore the shortcut or ribbon button the same way you would in the main document. The formatting works in any text box or field in Word.