Superscript in LaTeX uses the caret symbol
To write superscript in LaTeX, place a caret (^) before the character or group of characters you want to raise. In math mode, write x^2 to get x with a 2 raised above it. In text mode outside of equations, you need to enter math mode first by wrapping the superscript in dollar signs: $x^2$.
The caret tells LaTeX to raise whatever comes next. If you want to raise more than one character, wrap them in curly braces. Without braces, only the first character becomes superscript. For example, x^10 raises only the 1, leaving the 0 at normal height. To fix this, write x^{10} so both digits rise together.
This same method works for footnote markers, exponents, ordinal numbers, and any other raised text you need in your document.
Key Takeaways
- Use the caret symbol (^) followed by the character you want to raise, either in math mode or wrapped in dollar signs in text mode.
- Wrap multiple characters in curly braces after the caret so they all rise together as one unit.
- Math mode (between dollar signs or in equation environments) is the standard place for superscript, especially for exponents and mathematical notation.
- In text mode, superscript works best for footnote references, ordinal suffixes, and trademark symbols rather than mathematical expressions.
Superscript in math mode versus text mode
LaTeX has two contexts where you can use superscript, and they work slightly differently. Math mode is the proper place for mathematical expressions. You enter math mode by surrounding your text with single dollar signs ($...$) for inline equations, or double dollar signs ($$...$$) for display equations on their own line. Inside math mode, the caret works automatically without any extra setup.
In text mode — the normal writing part of your document — the caret does not work by itself. You must wrap your superscript in dollar signs to tell LaTeX you are using math notation. So if you write The 1st place winner and want to make the "st" superscript, you would write The 1$^{st}$place winner. The dollar signs switch into math mode just for that raised text, then switch back to normal text afterward.
Most technical documents use superscript in math mode because that is where exponents, powers, and mathematical notation belong. Text mode superscript is better for ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd), footnote markers, and trademark or copyright symbols.
Grouping multiple characters with curly braces
When you write x^2, LaTeX raises only the 2. If you need to raise more than one character — like an exponent of 10, or a footnote marker with multiple digits — you must tell LaTeX to treat them as a group. You do this by wrapping them in curly braces: x^{10} or E=mc^{2}.
Without braces, x^10 produces x with only the 1 raised, and the 0 sits at normal height. This looks broken. Curly braces solve this by saying "raise everything inside these braces as one unit." The braces themselves do not appear in the output — they are instructions to LaTeX about how to group the characters.
This rule applies anywhere you use the caret. If you want to raise a single character, braces are optional. If you want to raise two or more characters, braces are required. It is good practice to always use them, even for single characters, because it makes your code clearer and prevents mistakes if you add more characters later.
Common superscript examples in LaTeX documents
Mathematical exponents are the most common use. Write $a^{2} + b^{2} = c^{2}$ for the Pythagorean theorem, or $10^{-3}$ for scientific notation. The dollar signs tell LaTeX this is math, and the caret raises the exponent.
Ordinal numbers in text use superscript for the suffix. Instead of writing "1st" as plain text, you can write 1$^{st}$ to raise the "st". Similarly, 2$^{nd}$, 3$^{rd}$, and 4$^{th}$ all follow the same pattern. Some writers prefer this style for formal documents, though it is not required.
Footnote references sometimes use superscript numbers. If you use LaTeX's built-in footnote command, it handles this automatically. But if you are manually adding a superscript number to reference something, write See reference$^{1}$ to raise the number.
Chemical formulas and units also use superscript. Write $H_2O$ for water (the underscore makes subscript), or $m^{2}$ for square meters. Physics and chemistry documents rely heavily on this notation.
Troubleshooting superscript that does not appear
If your superscript does not show up or looks wrong, the most common cause is forgetting the dollar signs in text mode. LaTeX ignores the caret outside of math mode. If you write x^2 in regular text without dollar signs, it will either produce an error or display incorrectly. Always wrap text-mode superscript in $...$.
The second common mistake is forgetting curly braces around multiple characters. If you write x^10, you get x with only the 1 raised. The 0 stays at normal height because LaTeX only raised the character when ready after the caret. Add braces: x^{10}.
If you see an error message mentioning "missing $" or "math mode", it usually means you tried to use the caret outside of math mode without dollar signs. Check that any superscript in text is wrapped in $...$. In math mode (inside an equation environment), you do not need the dollar signs — the environment itself tells LaTeX you are writing math.
Superscript in different LaTeX packages and environments
The basic caret method works in all standard LaTeX documents. However, some packages and environments have special handling. The amsmath package, which most technical documents load, does not change how superscript works — it just provides more equation environments like align and gather. Inside these environments, the caret works exactly the same way.
If you are using a package for chemistry (like chemformula) or physics (like siunitx), those packages may have their own commands for superscript. But the basic caret method still works as a fallback. Check the package documentation if you need special formatting, but for most documents, ^ with curly braces is all you need.
In presentation software built on LaTeX, like Beamer, superscript works the same way. Write $x^{2}$ in your slide text and it will display correctly. The context does not change the syntax.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to use curly braces for a single character?
No, but it is good practice. x^2 and x^{2} produce the same output. However, using braces makes your code clearer and prevents mistakes if you add more characters later. Many writers always use braces for consistency.
How do I make subscript instead of superscript?
Use the underscore (_) instead of the caret. Write $H_2O$ to get H with a 2 below it. The same grouping rules explore — use curly braces for multiple characters: $x_{10}$.
Can I combine superscript and subscript on the same character?
Yes. Write $x^{2}_{i}$ to get x with a 2 above and an i below. You can also write $x_{i}^{2}$ — the order does not matter. Both produce the same result.
What if I want superscript in a section heading or title?
Use dollar signs the same way: \section{Einstein's $E=mc^{2}$}. The dollar signs work inside headings, captions, and any other text. LaTeX will render the superscript correctly even in the table of contents.
Why does my superscript look too small?
LaTeX automatically scales superscript smaller than regular text — this is correct behavior. If it looks too small to read, your font size may be too small overall. Increase the document font size in your preamble with \documentclass[12pt]{article} instead of the default 10pt.