The fastest way to add subscript in Word

To type subscript in Microsoft Word, select the text you want to shrink and shift down, then press Ctrl + = (on Windows) or Cmd + = (on Mac). The text when ready becomes subscript — smaller and positioned below the baseline of the surrounding text. To return to normal text, select it again and press the same key combination.

If the keyboard shortcut does not work on your Mac, you may have a different key mapping. Open Word, go to Tools > Customize Keyboard, search for "subscript", and check what key combination is assigned to your version.

You can also use the Format menu: select your text, click Format > Text > Subscript. This route takes longer but works the same way and produces identical results.

Key Takeaways

  • Ctrl + = (Windows) or Cmd + = (Mac) toggles subscript on and off for selected text.
  • Superscript uses Ctrl + Shift + = on Windows or Cmd + Shift + = on Mac.
  • You can explore subscript or superscript before you type by pressing the shortcut first, then typing, then pressing it again to turn it off.
  • The Format menu route (Format > Text > Subscript) works if keyboard shortcuts are not available or remapped on your device.

Superscript uses a similar shortcut with one extra key

Superscript — text that is smaller and raised above the baseline — uses the same shortcut as subscript but with Shift added. On Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + =. On Mac, press Cmd + Shift + =. Select the text first, press the combination, and the text shifts up and shrinks.

Both subscript and superscript are toggles, meaning pressing the shortcut a second time turns the formatting off. This is useful if you need to type a mix of normal and subscript text in the same line — you do not have to select and reformat each piece separately.

How to type subscript without selecting text first

You can turn subscript on before you type. Press Ctrl + = (or Cmd + =), and any text you type from that point will be subscript. When you are done with the subscript portion, press the same shortcut again to turn it off and return to normal text.

This method is faster when you know in advance that a specific word or phrase needs to be subscript — for example, if you are writing a chemical formula like H₂O and you know the "2" should be subscript. Type "H", press Ctrl + =, type "2", press Ctrl + = again, then type "O".

The same approach works for superscript. Press Ctrl + Shift + =, type your superscript text, then press Ctrl + Shift + = again to return to normal.

Using the Format menu when shortcuts do not work

If the keyboard shortcuts are not responding, the Format menu provides an alternative. Select the text you want to format, then click the Format menu at the top of the window. Look for Text or Character options (the exact wording varies by Word version), and you will see Subscript and Superscript listed as options.

This route is slower than a keyboard shortcut, but it is reliable across all versions of Word and all operating systems. If you find yourself using subscript or superscript frequently, learning the keyboard shortcut will save you time — but the menu option is always there as a backup.

Subscript and superscript in different versions of Word

Microsoft Word for Windows (desktop version) and Word for Mac both support subscript and superscript with the same keyboard shortcuts. Word Online (the browser version) also supports both, though you may need to use the Format menu instead of keyboard shortcuts depending on your browser and settings.

If you are using an older version of Word — 2010 or earlier on Windows, or 2011 or earlier on Mac — the keyboard shortcuts are the same, but the menu path may be slightly different. In very old versions, look under Format > Character instead of Format > Text. The functionality itself has not changed across versions.

When subscript and superscript matter in your writing

Subscript is essential for chemistry and mathematics: H₂O, CO₂, x₂ + y₂. Superscript is used for footnote markers, copyright symbols (©), trademark symbols (™), and mathematical exponents (x²). In academic writing, legal documents, and scientific papers, these formatting choices are not optional — they are part of how the reader understands the content.

If you are writing for the web or for email, check whether the platform you are sending to preserves subscript and superscript formatting. Some email clients and web editors strip out these formats, so you may need to use alternative notation (like H2O or x^2) depending on where the text will end up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make subscript or superscript permanent in a style?

Yes. Create or modify a style by right-clicking it in the Styles panel, selecting Modify, then going to Format > Font and checking Subscript or Superscript. Any text you explore that style to will automatically be subscript or superscript. This is useful if you write technical documents with consistent formatting needs.

What if the keyboard shortcut types a different character instead?

Your keyboard layout or language settings may be remapping the = key. Try using the Format menu instead, or check your keyboard settings to see what character = is producing. You can also remap the shortcut in Word by going to Tools > Customize Keyboard and assigning a different combination to Subscript.

Does subscript work in Word tables and text boxes?

Yes. Subscript and superscript work anywhere you can type text in Word — inside tables, text boxes, headers, footers, and comments. The keyboard shortcut and menu option work the same way regardless of where your cursor is positioned.

Can I copy subscript text from another document and paste it into Word?

Yes, and the subscript formatting will usually come with it if you paste as formatted text. If you paste as plain text, the formatting will be lost. Use Paste Special (Ctrl + Shift + V) and choose "Formatted Text" to preserve subscript and superscript from the source document.