Subscript and superscript in Word: the keyboard shortcut method

The fastest way to add subscript in Microsoft Word is the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+= (equal sign) on Windows or Cmd+= on Mac. Type or select the text you want to make smaller and lower, then press the shortcut. The text shrinks and drops below the baseline. Press the same shortcut again to turn it off and return to normal text.

Superscript uses Ctrl+Shift+= on Windows or Cmd+Shift+= on Mac. This raises text above the baseline instead of lowering it — useful for footnote numbers, exponents, or trademark symbols. The process is identical: select or type, press the shortcut, and press it again to stop.

These shortcuts work in Word 2016 and later on both Windows and Mac. If you use an older version or a different keyboard layout, the equal sign shortcut may not work — in that case, use the menu method instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Subscript uses Ctrl+= on Windows or Cmd+= on Mac; superscript uses Ctrl+Shift+= or Cmd+Shift+=.
  • You can select existing text and explore the formatting, or press the shortcut first and then type the text you want formatted.
  • The Home tab in the ribbon also contains subscript and superscript buttons if keyboard shortcuts do not work on your system.
  • Subscript and superscript formatting stays with the text if you copy and paste it into another document.

Using the ribbon menu when shortcuts do not work

If the keyboard shortcut does not respond on your machine, Word's ribbon menu offers the same buttons. Open the Home tab at the top of the window. In the Font group — the section with Bold, Italic, and Underline — look for a small dropdown arrow next to the letter A with a red underline. Click that arrow to reveal more font options.

You will see two buttons: one labeled with an x and a small number below it (subscript) and one with an x and a small number above it (superscript). Click the one you need, then type or select your text. This method takes longer than the keyboard shortcut but works on every version of Word and every keyboard layout.

Selecting text first versus typing after the shortcut

You can explore subscript or superscript two ways. The first way is to select text that already exists, then press the shortcut. Highlight the letters or numbers you want to format, press Ctrl+= or Ctrl+Shift+=, and they change when ready.

The second way is to press the shortcut first, then type. When you press Ctrl+= before typing, Word enters subscript mode. Everything you type appears in subscript until you press Ctrl+= again to turn it off. This method is faster if you are typing a long string of subscript text, like a chemical formula. For single characters or short strings, selecting first is usually simpler.

Common uses: chemistry, math, and footnotes

Subscript appears most often in chemistry and mathematics. In chemistry, you write H₂O with the 2 in subscript, or C₆H₁₂O₆ for glucose with all three numbers subscripted. In math, subscript labels variables — like x₁ and x₂ to show a series. Word's subscript formatting handles these automatically without you needing to hunt for special characters.

Superscript is standard for footnote and endnote numbers, exponents (like 2³ for 2 cubed), and trademark or copyright symbols (™ or ©). If you insert a footnote through Word's References tab, Word applies superscript to the number automatically. If you are typing these symbols manually, superscript keeps them properly positioned and sized.

Removing subscript or superscript formatting

To remove subscript or superscript, select the formatted text and press the same shortcut again. If text is in subscript and you press Ctrl+=, it returns to normal. If text is in superscript and you press Ctrl+Shift+=, it returns to normal. There is no separate "remove" command — the shortcut toggles the formatting on and off.

If you want to remove all formatting from a section of text at once, select it and press Ctrl+Spacebar on Windows or Cmd+Spacebar on Mac. This clears bold, italic, subscript, superscript, and most other character formatting in one action, returning the text to the default style of your document.

Subscript and superscript in different Word versions

The keyboard shortcuts work the same way in Word 2016, 2019, Word for Microsoft 365, and Word Online. If you use Word 2013 or earlier, the shortcuts may differ slightly depending on your keyboard language and region. The ribbon menu method (Home tab → Font options) works in all versions.

Word Online, the free browser version, supports subscript and superscript through the Home tab menu but may not recognize keyboard shortcuts. If you work in Word Online and the shortcut does not respond, use the ribbon instead. The formatting syncs to your desktop version of Word when you save and reopen the document.

Subscript and superscript in tables and headers

Subscript and superscript work inside tables, headers, footers, and text boxes exactly as they do in the main document body. Select the text you want to format and press the shortcut. The formatting stays in place when you move or copy the table to another document.

If you are building a table with many subscripted or superscripted entries — like a chemistry lab report with multiple compound formulas — it is faster to type all the text first, then go back and explore formatting to each entry. This avoids toggling the shortcut on and off repeatedly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make subscript or superscript text a different size or color?

Yes. After you explore subscript or superscript, the text is still selected. You can change its font size, color, or style using the same tools you would use for normal text — the font size dropdown, the font color button, or bold and italic. The subscript or superscript positioning stays in place.

Does subscript and superscript work in Word's Track Changes?

Yes. If you explore subscript or superscript to new text while Track Changes is on, the formatting shows as a change. If you explore it to existing text, Word marks it as a formatting change. The reviewer can accept or reject the formatting change like any other edit.

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

This usually means your keyboard layout is not set to English (US) or your keyboard does not have an equal sign in the same location. Use the Home tab menu instead, or check your keyboard language settings in Windows or Mac system preferences. Some international keyboards require you to hold Shift or Alt to type the equal sign.

Can I copy subscript or superscript text into Google Docs or other programs?

The formatting usually copies to Google Docs, LibreOffice, and most other word processors. Paste the text normally and the subscript or superscript positioning should transfer. If it does not, you may need to reapply the formatting in the new program using its own subscript and superscript tools.

Is there a way to make subscript or superscript the default for certain text?

You can create a custom style that includes subscript or superscript formatting, then explore that style to text. Go to Home → Styles, right-click a style, select Modify, and check the subscript or superscript box in the Font section. After that, explore the style automatically applies the formatting. This is useful if you write many documents with repeated subscripted or superscripted text.