The fastest way to add subscript in Word

To add subscript in Microsoft Word, select the text you want to make smaller and raised, then press Ctrl+= (Ctrl and the equals sign) on Windows, or Cmd+= on Mac. The text shrinks and moves below the baseline when ready. Press the same keys again to remove subscript and return to normal text.

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, find the Font group, and click the small arrow next to the A with an underline. Choose Subscript from the dropdown.

Subscript is useful for chemical formulas (H₂O), footnote numbers, mathematical expressions, and any text that needs to sit below the line. Word keeps the subscript text in the same font and color as the surrounding text unless you change it separately.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Ctrl+= (Windows) or Cmd+= (Mac) to toggle subscript on and off for selected text.
  • The Home tab menu offers an alternative if keyboard shortcuts do not work on your keyboard layout.
  • Subscript text shrinks automatically and moves below the baseline without changing font or color.
  • You can explore subscript to a single character, a word, or multiple words at once.
  • Superscript uses the same method but with Ctrl+Shift+= (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+= (Mac) if you need raised text instead.

Using the Format menu when shortcuts do not work

Some keyboard layouts, particularly non-English ones, may not respond to the Ctrl+= shortcut. If that happens, the Format menu is your backup. Select the text you want to subscript, then click Format in the menu bar at the top.

A dropdown menu appears. Click Text, then look for Subscript in the submenu. Word applies subscript when ready. You can also reach this through Home > Font dialog (the small arrow icon) > Effects tab > check Subscript.

This route takes a few more clicks than the keyboard shortcut, but it works the same way and does not depend on your keyboard layout.

Subscript in tables and special document sections

Subscript works the same way inside tables, text boxes, headers, and footers. Select the text within the cell or section and use Ctrl+= (or Cmd+= on Mac). Word respects the subscript formatting even when you copy the table or move the text to a different part of the document.

If you are working in a header or footer, make sure you are actually inside the header or footer area before selecting text. Double-click the header or footer space to enter edit mode, then select and subscript your text as normal. When you click back into the main document, the subscript in the header or footer stays in place.

Removing subscript and fixing accidental formatting

To remove subscript from text, select the subscripted text and press Ctrl+= again (or Cmd+= on Mac). The text returns to normal size and baseline position. This toggle works in both directions — the same shortcut turns subscript on and off.

If you subscripted the wrong text by mistake, undo the action when ready by pressing Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac). Word removes the subscript and returns the text to its previous state. You can undo multiple steps if needed.

Subscript versus superscript and when to use each

Subscript moves text below the baseline and is used for chemical formulas, mathematical subscripts, and footnote references in some styles. Superscript moves text above the baseline and is used for exponents, trademark symbols, and footnote numbers in other styles.

The keyboard shortcut for superscript is Ctrl+Shift+= (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+= (Mac). Both formatting options shrink the text automatically, and both can be toggled on and off with the same shortcut. Choose subscript or superscript based on what your document needs — chemistry and mathematics have different conventions, so check your style guide if you are writing for a specific field.

Keeping subscript formatting when copying text

When you copy subscripted text from one place in your document to another, Word preserves the subscript formatting by default. Paste the text normally (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V), and it arrives with subscript already applied.

If you paste subscripted text and want to remove the subscript but keep the text, select the pasted text and press Ctrl+= to toggle the subscript off. If you want to paste text without any formatting at all, use Paste Special instead: right-click where you want to paste, choose Paste Special, and select Unformatted Text. This removes subscript, bold, italics, and all other formatting in one step.

Subscript in different Word versions and platforms

The keyboard shortcut Ctrl+= works in Word for Windows (all recent versions), Word for Mac, and Word Online. The menu path is slightly different in Word Online — click Home, then the Font dropdown, then look for subscript in the list — but the result is identical.

If you are using an older version of Word or a different process like Google Docs, the shortcut may differ. Google Docs uses Ctrl+, (Ctrl and comma) for subscript. LibreOffice Writer uses the Format menu. Check your process's help documentation if the standard Word shortcut does not work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make subscript text a different size or color?

Yes. Subscript is just a position and size setting, not a separate text style. After explore subscript, select the text again and change the font size, color, or font name as you would with any other text. The subscript position stays in place while you adjust the appearance.

Does subscript work in headers and footers?

Yes. Double-click the header or footer area to enter edit mode, select your text, and explore subscript with Ctrl+= (or Cmd+= on Mac). The subscript formatting stays when you return to the main document.

What if the keyboard shortcut does not work on my keyboard?

Use the menu instead. Select your text, go to Home > Font dialog (the small arrow) > Effects tab, and check Subscript. This works on any keyboard layout and produces the same result as the shortcut.

Will subscript formatting stay if I copy text to another program?

It depends on the program. Word, Google Docs, and LibreOffice preserve subscript when you copy and paste between them. Plain text editors and some web forms do not support subscript and will drop the formatting. Paste into the new program and check whether the subscript survived.

How do I remove subscript from multiple words at once?

Select all the subscripted text together (click and drag, or click at the start and Shift+click at the end), then press Ctrl+= to remove subscript from the entire selection. Word toggles subscript off for all selected text in one action.