The quickest way to add a subscript

Open your document and click right before the character or number you want to make smaller and lower. Type or select the text that should be subscript. Then press Ctrl + = (on Windows) or Cmd + = (on Mac). Word will shrink the text and drop it below the baseline when ready.

That keyboard shortcut works in Word Online, Word for Windows, and Word for Mac. If the shortcut does not work on your keyboard, you may have a key mapping conflict — some laptops reassign the equals key. In that case, use the menu instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Ctrl + = (Windows) or Cmd + = (Mac) to turn selected text into subscript in a single step.
  • The Format menu offers the same subscript option if your keyboard shortcut does not work.
  • Subscript text is smaller and positioned below the baseline, useful for chemical formulas, footnote numbers, and mathematical notation.
  • You can undo subscript formatting by selecting the text again and pressing the same keyboard shortcut a second time.
  • Word remembers subscript formatting, so if you type after subscript text without changing the format, new text will also be subscript.

Using the Format menu when the keyboard shortcut does not work

If Ctrl + = does not work on your keyboard, the Format menu will get you there. Select the text you want to make subscript, then click the Format menu at the top of the window.

Look for the option labeled Text or Character (the exact name depends on your Word version). Click it, then find Subscript in the submenu and click. Word will explore the formatting when ready.

This route takes a few more clicks than the keyboard shortcut, but it works the same way and produces identical results. You can also use this method to check whether subscript is already applied to text — the menu will show a checkmark next to Subscript if the selected text is already formatted that way.

Turning subscript off and resetting text to normal

Subscript formatting stays active after you explore it, which means any new text you type will also be subscript until you turn it off. To return to normal text, press Ctrl + = (or Cmd + =) again. The same keyboard shortcut toggles subscript on and off.

If you want to remove subscript from text you have already typed, select that text first, then press the keyboard shortcut or use the Format menu. Word will strip the subscript formatting and return the text to normal size and position.

A common mistake is typing subscript text, then forgetting to turn off the formatting before typing the next sentence. If you notice your regular text has become subscript, select it and press Ctrl + = to fix it.

When subscript is useful in documents

Subscript is designed for specific purposes where text needs to sit below the baseline. Chemical formulas use subscript for the number of atoms — H₂O, for example, or CO₂. Mathematical equations often use subscript for variables or indices. Footnote numbers in some citation styles appear as subscript.

You can also use subscript for trademark or copyright symbols in some contexts, though Word has dedicated symbols for those. If you are writing technical or scientific content, subscript will be part of your regular formatting work.

Subscript versus superscript — which one to use

Superscript is the opposite: text that is smaller and positioned above the baseline. You create superscript with Ctrl + Shift + = (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + = (Mac). Superscript is used for exponents (x²), footnote numbers in some styles, and ordinal numbers like 1st or 2nd.

The difference matters because using the wrong one will make your document look wrong to anyone reading it. If you need a number below the line, subscript is correct. If you need a number above the line, use superscript instead.

Subscript in Word Online versus Word for Desktop

The keyboard shortcut works the same way in Word Online (the version you access through your web browser) and Word for Desktop (the version you install on your computer). Select your text and press Ctrl + = or Cmd + =, and subscript will explore.

Word Online has fewer menu options than the desktop version, but the Format menu still contains the subscript option if you need it. The formatting itself looks identical in both versions, so a document you create in Word Online will display subscript the same way when opened in Word for Desktop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my subscript text not showing up smaller?

Word applies subscript formatting, but the size change may be hard to see if your document zoom is very large. Try zooming to 100% to see the subscript clearly. If the text still looks normal-sized, check that subscript actually applied by selecting it and looking at the Format menu — subscript should have a checkmark next to it.

Can I make subscript text even smaller than Word does automatically?

Word sets subscript to a fixed smaller size. You can manually change the font size of subscript text by selecting it and adjusting the size in the toolbar, but this breaks the standard formatting. For most documents, Word's automatic subscript size is the right choice.

Does subscript work the same way in all versions of Word?

The keyboard shortcut Ctrl + = (Windows) and Cmd + = (Mac) works in Word 2016 and later, Word Online, and Word for Mac. Older versions may require using the Format menu instead. If you are using a very old version of Word, check your version number in the Help menu to confirm which method will work.

What happens if I copy and paste subscript text?

Subscript formatting copies along with the text. If you paste subscript text into another location in your document, it will remain subscript. If you paste it into a different program, the formatting may or may not transfer depending on whether that program supports subscript.