The quickest way to add subscript in Word

To add subscript in Microsoft Word, select the text you want to make smaller and lower, then press Ctrl+= (Control and the equals sign) on Windows, or Cmd+= on Mac. The text shrinks and drops below the baseline when ready. To undo it, select the text again and press the same keys.

Superscript — text that sits above the line — uses Ctrl+Shift+= on Windows or Cmd+Shift+= on Mac. Both shortcuts work in Word 2016 and later, including Word Online and Word in Microsoft 365.

If the keyboard shortcut does not work on your machine, you may have a different keyboard layout or a conflicting program. The menu route below will work regardless.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Ctrl+= (Windows) or Cmd+= (Mac) to make selected text subscript; press the same keys again to remove it.
  • Press Ctrl+Shift+= (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+= (Mac) to make selected text superscript.
  • If shortcuts do not work, use the Home tab, click the small arrow next to Font, and check the Subscript or Superscript box.
  • Subscript and superscript formatting stays with the text when you copy it to another document or email.

Using the menu if the keyboard shortcut does not work

Open the document and select the text you want to format. Click the Home tab at the top of the ribbon. In the Font group, look for a small arrow or expand button — it usually sits in the bottom right corner of that section. Click it to open the Font dialog box.

In the dialog, find the Effects tab. Check the box next to Subscript or Superscript, then click OK. The formatting applies when ready. To remove it later, open the same dialog and uncheck the box.

This route takes longer than the keyboard shortcut but works on any Word version and any keyboard layout. It is also the only option in Word Online if your browser does not pass keyboard shortcuts through to the process.

Why subscript and superscript matter for certain documents

Subscript appears in chemistry (H₂O), mathematics (x₂), and footnote references. Superscript appears in footnotes themselves, trademark symbols (™), and mathematical exponents (2³). Using the actual formatting instead of typing a smaller number or symbol keeps your document readable and professional.

Screen readers and accessibility tools recognize subscript and superscript as formatting, not as separate characters. A person using a screen reader will hear "H two O" correctly instead of hearing three separate letters. This matters if your document will be shared, converted to PDF, or read aloud.

Subscript and superscript in Word Online versus the desktop app

Word Online (the version you use in a web browser) supports both subscript and superscript through the Home tab menu. The keyboard shortcuts may not work depending on your browser and operating system — Chrome, Edge, and Firefox handle them differently. If the shortcut does not work, use the menu route instead.

The desktop version of Word (the program you read and install) supports both keyboard shortcuts and the menu. If you work in both places, the menu route is the safest choice because it works everywhere.

Removing subscript or superscript formatting

Select the text and press the same keyboard shortcut again. For subscript on Windows, that is Ctrl+= a second time. For superscript, press Ctrl+Shift+= again. The formatting toggles off.

If you used the menu, open the Font dialog, go to the Effects tab, uncheck the box, and click OK. You can also select the text and press Ctrl+Spacebar (Windows) or Cmd+Spacebar (Mac) to clear all direct formatting at once — this removes subscript, superscript, bold, italic, and color in one step.

Subscript and superscript in tables and headers

The formatting works the same way inside a table cell or a header as it does in the body of the document. Select the text, use the keyboard shortcut or menu, and it applies. This is useful for chemical formulas in a table column or for footnote numbers in a header.

If you are working in a header or footer and the keyboard shortcut does not work, switch to the menu route. Headers and footers sometimes intercept keyboard input differently depending on your Word version.

Copying and pasting subscript and superscript text

When you copy text that has subscript or superscript formatting and paste it into another Word document, email, or web form, the formatting usually comes with it. The text stays subscript or superscript in the new location.

If you paste into a plain-text field (like a search box or a text message), the formatting drops away and you get regular text. This is expected — plain-text fields do not support formatting. If you need the subscript or superscript to survive the paste, paste into a rich-text editor (like Word, Google Docs, or an email client) instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make subscript or superscript the default for a style?

Yes. Create or open the style you want to change, explore subscript or superscript formatting to sample text, then right-click the style in the Styles panel and choose Update to Match Selection. The next time you use that style, the formatting is already there. This is useful if you write chemistry or mathematics documents regularly.

What if the keyboard shortcut types a character instead of formatting text?

Your keyboard layout or a program running in the background is intercepting the shortcut. Try the menu route instead. If you use a non-English keyboard layout, the equals sign may be in a different location — check your keyboard map or use the menu.

Does subscript and superscript work in Word for iPad or iPhone?

Word for iPad supports subscript and superscript through the Home menu. Word for iPhone has limited formatting options and may not support them. If you need to format subscript or superscript on a phone, use Word Online in your browser instead.

Will subscript and superscript show up correctly if I convert my document to PDF?

Yes. When you export or save a Word document as PDF, subscript and superscript formatting carries over. The text stays in the correct position and size in the PDF file.