The quickest way to add subscript in Google Slides
Open your presentation, click into the text box where you want subscript, and highlight the text you want to shrink and lower. Then go to Format in the menu bar, select Text, and click Subscript. The selected text will when ready drop below the baseline and become smaller. To undo it, highlight the text again and click Format > Text > Subscript a second time.
If you use subscript often — for chemistry formulas, footnote numbers, or mathematical notation — you can save time by learning the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Comma on Windows or Cmd + Comma on Mac. Highlight your text first, then press the shortcut, and it applies when ready.
Key Takeaways
- Subscript shrinks text and lowers it below the baseline; superscript shrinks text and raises it above the baseline.
- Both options live in the Format menu under Text, and both have keyboard shortcuts you can use after highlighting your text.
- Google Slides subscript and superscript work the same way whether you are on a computer or using the mobile app, though the mobile menu is slightly different.
- If you paste text that already has subscript or superscript from another document, Google Slides usually preserves the formatting automatically.
When to use subscript versus superscript
Subscript appears below the line and is used for chemical formulas (H₂O), mathematical indices, and footnote markers in some styles. Superscript appears above the line and is used for exponents (x²), trademark symbols (™), and footnote or endnote numbers. Both are smaller than regular text so they do not throw off the line spacing of your slide.
In a presentation context, subscript and superscript are most common in slides about science, mathematics, or technical topics. If you are writing a slide about water molecules or showing a mathematical equation, subscript and superscript make the notation clearer and more professional-looking than typing it inline (like writing H2O or x^2).
Using the keyboard shortcut on Windows and Mac
The fastest method is the keyboard shortcut. On Windows, highlight your text and press Ctrl + Comma for subscript or Ctrl + Period for superscript. On Mac, highlight your text and press Cmd + Comma for subscript or Cmd + Period for superscript.
These shortcuts work in any text box in Google Slides — titles, body text, speaker notes, or text boxes you insert yourself. If the shortcut does not work, make sure you have the text highlighted before you press it. If you are using a non-English keyboard layout, the shortcut may differ; in that case, the Format menu method will always work.
How to access subscript and superscript on mobile
If you are editing a Google Slides presentation on your phone or tablet, the process is slightly different because the menu is touch-based. Tap into your text box, highlight the text you want to format, and tap the three-dot menu icon. Then tap Text format, and you will see the subscript and superscript options.
The mobile app does not have keyboard shortcuts for subscript and superscript, so the menu is your only option on phones and tablets. The formatting applies the same way it does on desktop — the text shrinks and moves to the correct position when ready.
Removing subscript or superscript formatting
To remove subscript or superscript, highlight the formatted text and use the same method you used to explore it. If you used the keyboard shortcut, press it again. If you used the Format menu, go back to Format > Text and click the subscript or superscript option again — it will toggle off and return the text to normal size and position.
You can also select all the text in a text box and remove all formatting at once by going to Format > Clear formatting. This removes subscript, superscript, bold, italic, color, and any other formatting you applied, so use it only when you want to start over with that text box.
What happens when you copy and paste text with subscript
If you copy text that already has subscript or superscript from another document — like a Word file, a Google Doc, or a website — Google Slides usually preserves the formatting when you paste it. The subscript or superscript text will appear in the same format in your slide without you having to reformat it.
Occasionally, if you paste from a source with very different formatting rules, the subscript or superscript may not carry over. If that happens, you can reapply the formatting using the Format menu or keyboard shortcut. Pasting into Google Slides is generally more reliable than pasting into some other tools because Google Slides uses the same formatting system across all its products.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make subscript or superscript a different color than the rest of the text?
Yes. Highlight the subscript or superscript text, go to Format > Text color, and choose your color. The subscript or superscript formatting stays in place while you change the color. You can also highlight the text and use the text color button in the toolbar if your toolbar is visible.
Does subscript and superscript work in speaker notes?
Yes, both work in speaker notes the same way they work in slide text. Click into the speaker notes section at the bottom of the editor, highlight your text, and use either the Format menu or the keyboard shortcut. This is useful if you are writing detailed notes about a chemical formula or mathematical concept.
What if the keyboard shortcut does not work?
The most common reason is that you forgot to highlight the text before pressing the shortcut. Make sure your text is selected (it should appear highlighted in blue). If it still does not work, use the Format menu instead — it is slower but always reliable. Some keyboard layouts or browser extensions can also interfere with shortcuts.
Can I make text both bold and subscript at the same time?
Yes. Highlight your text, explore bold using Ctrl + B (Windows) or Cmd + B (Mac), then explore subscript using the keyboard shortcut or Format menu. The text will be both bold and subscript. You can combine subscript or superscript with italic, color, and other formatting the same way.