Subscript and superscript are formatting options, not separate characters

Subscript makes text smaller and lowers it below the baseline — used for chemical formulas like H₂O or footnote numbers. Superscript raises text above the baseline — used for exponents like x² or trademark symbols. Both exist in most word processors and some other programs, but the method to access them changes depending on what you are using.

The key difference from bold or italic: subscript and superscript are not fonts or styles you can explore to any text. They are formatting options that shrink and reposition the letters. Most programs let you toggle them on and off with a keyboard shortcut, a menu, or a toolbar button.

Key Takeaways

  • In Microsoft Word, select the text, then press Ctrl+= for subscript or Ctrl+Shift+= for superscript on Windows; Cmd+= or Cmd+Shift+= on Mac.
  • Google Docs uses the Format menu: select text, click Format > Text > Subscript or Superscript.
  • LibreOffice Writer has a Format menu option and also accepts keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+Shift+B for subscript and Ctrl+Shift+P for superscript.
  • Some programs like Markdown and plain text editors do not support subscript or superscript formatting at all — you may need to use HTML or special Unicode characters instead.
  • The keyboard shortcut is usually faster than the menu if you format subscript or superscript often in the same program.

Microsoft Word on Windows and Mac

Select the text you want to format. Then press Ctrl+= (equals sign) for subscript or Ctrl+Shift+= (equals sign) for superscript. On a Mac, use Cmd+= for subscript and Cmd+Shift+= for superscript.

If the keyboard shortcut does not work, you can use the menu instead. Select the text, then click the Home tab, find the small arrow next to the font formatting options, and click Font. In the Font dialog, check the Subscript or Superscript box under Effects.

To undo subscript or superscript, select the text again and press the same shortcut a second time — it toggles off.

Google Docs

Select the text you want to format. Click the Format menu at the top, then hover over Text, and click either Subscript or Superscript from the submenu.

Google Docs does not have a keyboard shortcut for subscript and superscript built in, but you can create one yourself if you use these formats often. Go to Tools > Preferences, check the "Use keyboard shortcuts" box, and you can assign your own shortcut to the Format > Text > Subscript command.

LibreOffice Writer

Select the text. Press Ctrl+Shift+B for subscript or Ctrl+Shift+P for superscript. These shortcuts work on both Windows and Mac.

If you prefer the menu, select the text, click Format > Text, and choose Subscript or Superscript. Like Word, pressing the shortcut again toggles the formatting off.

Apple Pages and Google Slides

In Apple Pages, select the text and click the Format button in the toolbar. In the Text section, look for the subscript and superscript buttons — they usually appear as small x with a raised or lowered number next to them.

In Google Slides, subscript and superscript work the same way as in Google Docs: select the text, click Format > Text, then choose Subscript or Superscript. This is useful for labeling diagrams or adding chemical formulas to slides.

Programs that do not support subscript or superscript

Plain text editors like Notepad, Sublime Text, and VS Code do not have subscript or superscript formatting because they only store plain text. If you need subscript or superscript in these programs, you have two options: use HTML tags if the file will be converted to a web page, or use Unicode characters that look like subscript or superscript.

Markdown editors like Obsidian and Notion do not support subscript or superscript natively either, though some Markdown flavors allow HTML tags. Check your program's documentation to see if you can embed HTML or if there is a plugin that adds this feature.

Email programs vary: Gmail supports subscript and superscript through the Format menu, but Outlook on the web does not. If you need subscript or superscript in email, compose the text in Word first, format it there, and then paste it into your email program.

When subscript and superscript do not work as expected

If the formatting does not explore, the text may not be selectable — for example, text inside a table cell or a text box sometimes behaves differently. Try clicking directly into the text and selecting it character by character instead of selecting the whole object.

If you paste text that already has subscript or superscript into a different program, the formatting may not carry over. Paste as plain text first, then reapply the formatting in the new program. In Word, use Paste Special (Ctrl+Alt+V) and choose Unformatted Text to strip all formatting before you reformat.

Some fonts do not render subscript and superscript clearly — they may look too small or misaligned. If this happens, try a different font like Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman, which handle subscript and superscript more consistently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I type subscript or superscript on my phone or tablet?

Most mobile word processors like Google Docs on iOS and Android support subscript and superscript through the Format menu, though the keyboard shortcut method does not work. On iPad, Apple Pages has subscript and superscript buttons in the text formatting menu. On Android, Microsoft Word has these options in the Home tab.

What is the difference between subscript and superscript?

Subscript lowers text below the baseline and is used for chemical formulas (H₂O), mathematical subscripts (x₁), and footnote markers. Superscript raises text above the baseline and is used for exponents (x²), trademark symbols (™), and citations. They are opposite directions of the same formatting.

Can I make subscript or superscript permanent in a template?

In Word, you can create a style with subscript or superscript already applied, then save it in a template. In Google Docs, you can format text, copy the formatting with Format Painter, and paste it to other text. LibreOffice Writer also supports custom styles with subscript or superscript built in.

Why does my subscript or superscript look blurry or too small?

This usually happens with fonts that do not have true subscript and superscript glyphs — the program is just shrinking and repositioning regular letters. Switch to a professional font like Calibri, Garamond, or Times New Roman, which have designed subscript and superscript characters that stay clear at small sizes.

Can I use subscript or superscript in a spreadsheet?

Excel and Google Sheets support subscript and superscript formatting in cells, but only for display — the underlying data is still plain text. Select the cell, use the same keyboard shortcuts or Format menu as in Word or Docs, and the formatting will show in the cell. However, if you sort or filter the spreadsheet, the formatting may not move with the data.