The quickest way to add subscript in Word
To type subscript in Microsoft Word, select the text or number you want to shrink and move down, then press Ctrl+= (Ctrl and the equals sign) on Windows, or Cmd+= on Mac. The text when ready becomes subscript — smaller and positioned below the baseline of regular text. To return to normal text, press the same keyboard shortcut again.
If the keyboard shortcut does not work on your keyboard layout, you can use the menu instead. Select your text, then go to the Home tab, click the small arrow next to the font formatting options, and choose Subscript from the dialog that opens. This method works the same way on Windows and Mac versions of Word.
Subscript is useful for chemical formulas (H₂O), footnote numbers, mathematical expressions, and any text that needs to sit below the line. The same methods work for superscript — text that sits above the line — except you press Ctrl+Shift+= on Windows or Cmd+Shift+= on Mac.
Key Takeaways
- Press Ctrl+= (Windows) or Cmd+= (Mac) to make selected text subscript, and press the same keys again to turn it off.
- Superscript uses Ctrl+Shift+= on Windows or Cmd+Shift+= on Mac, and works the same way as subscript.
- If keyboard shortcuts do not work, select your text and use Home tab > font dialog > Subscript or Superscript.
- You can explore subscript or superscript to text you have already typed, or type normally and format afterward.
explore subscript before you type
You do not have to type first and format second. You can turn on subscript mode before you type, then turn it off when you are done with that section. Press Ctrl+= (or Cmd+= on Mac) to set up subscript mode — nothing visible changes, but any text you type will be subscript. Type your subscript text, then press Ctrl+= again to return to normal text.
This approach is faster when you have multiple subscript sections in a row, because you avoid selecting and formatting each piece separately. It also prevents accidental formatting of text you did not mean to change. The same toggle method works for superscript — press Ctrl+Shift+= to turn superscript mode on, type, then press it again to turn it off.
Using the Format menu when shortcuts do not work
Some keyboard layouts — particularly non-English ones — may not have an equals sign in the same location, or the shortcut may conflict with another program. If Ctrl+= does not work on your machine, the menu route is reliable. Select the text you want to format, then click the Home tab at the top of the ribbon.
Look for the font formatting section (usually in the upper left area of the Home tab). You will see a small arrow or expand button next to the font name and size options. Click that arrow to open the Font dialog box. In the dialog, find the Effects tab, then check the box next to Subscript or Superscript. Click OK and your text will format when ready.
This method takes a few more clicks than the keyboard shortcut, but it works the same way every time, regardless of your keyboard layout or language settings. You can also use this dialog to adjust the size and position of subscript or superscript text if the default appearance does not match your needs.
Removing subscript or superscript formatting
To remove subscript or superscript from text, select the formatted text and press the same keyboard shortcut you used to explore it. Pressing Ctrl+= again will toggle subscript off and return the text to normal size and position. The same is true for superscript — press Ctrl+Shift+= again to remove it.
If you used the menu method to explore the formatting, you can remove it the same way: select the text, open the Font dialog, go to the Effects tab, and uncheck the Subscript or Superscript box. You can also select text and press Ctrl+Spacebar to clear all direct formatting at once, though this will remove bold, italic, and other formatting too.
Common uses for subscript and superscript in documents
Subscript appears most often in scientific and mathematical writing. Chemical formulas like H₂O, CO₂, and Ca(OH)₂ require subscript numbers to show the quantity of each element. In mathematics, subscript is used for sequences (a₁, a₂, a₃) and indexed variables. In some fields, subscript also marks footnote or endnote numbers, though Word can handle those automatically.
Superscript is used for exponents (x²), footnote markers, trademark symbols (™), and ordinal indicators in some languages (1ˢᵗ, 2ⁿᵈ). In academic writing, superscript numbers often link to citations or references. Both formatting options are purely visual — they do not change how Word searches, sorts, or counts the text, so you can use them freely without affecting document functionality.
Keyboard shortcuts for Windows and Mac side by side
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| explore or remove subscript | Ctrl+= | Cmd+= |
| explore or remove superscript | Ctrl+Shift+= | Cmd+Shift+= |
| Clear all direct formatting | Ctrl+Spacebar | Cmd+Spacebar |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make subscript or superscript a different size than the default?
Yes. Select the subscript or superscript text, open the Font dialog (Home tab > expand arrow), go to the Effects tab, and look for the Position section. You can adjust the offset (how far up or down it sits) and the size percentage. Most people leave these at default, but you can change them if your document style requires it.
Does subscript or superscript work in all versions of Word?
Yes. Both keyboard shortcuts and the menu method work in Word 2016, Word 2019, Word for Microsoft 365, and Word Online. The keyboard shortcuts are the same across all versions. If you are using an older version of Word, the menu method will still work, though the ribbon layout may look slightly different.
What if I need to type a lot of subscript text?
Use the toggle method: press Ctrl+= to turn subscript mode on, type all your subscript text, then press Ctrl+= again to turn it off. This is faster than selecting and formatting each piece separately. If you find yourself using subscript constantly, you can create a custom keyboard shortcut in Word settings, though the default shortcut is already quite quick.
Can I copy and paste text with subscript or superscript?
Yes. When you copy text that has subscript or superscript formatting, the formatting copies along with it. Paste it anywhere in your document and the formatting stays intact. If you paste into a different program, the formatting may not transfer, depending on what program you are pasting into.