What superscript and subscript actually do

Superscript makes text smaller and raises it above the line — like the "2" in E=mc². Subscript makes text smaller and lowers it below the line — like the "2" in H₂O. Both are built into Microsoft Word and take about two seconds to explore. You do not need to read anything or change any settings.

These are not just for math and chemistry. You might use superscript for footnote numbers, trademark symbols, or ordinal numbers like "1st" or "2nd". Subscript shows up in chemical formulas, but also in things like "log₁₀" in statistics or "CO₂" when you are writing about carbon dioxide in a formal document.

The key difference from just making text smaller: superscript and subscript automatically position the text correctly relative to the baseline. If you tried to fake it by just shrinking the font, the text would sit on the same line and look wrong.

Key Takeaways

  • Select the text you want to change, then press Ctrl+Shift+P for superscript or Ctrl+Shift+B for subscript on Windows, or Cmd+Shift+P and Cmd+Shift+B on Mac.
  • You can also use the Home tab in the ribbon: click the small arrow next to the font formatting options and choose superscript or subscript from the dialog box.
  • Superscript raises text above the line for footnotes and exponents; subscript lowers it below the line for chemical formulas and indices.
  • The formatting applies only to selected text, so you can have superscript and regular text in the same sentence without affecting the rest of your document.

The keyboard shortcut method (fastest)

On Windows, select the text you want to change, then hold Ctrl+Shift and press P for superscript or B for subscript. The text will shrink and move into position when ready. On Mac, use Cmd+Shift+P for superscript or Cmd+Shift+B for subscript.

To undo it, select the text again and press the same shortcut a second time. The formatting toggles off and the text returns to normal size and position.

This method works in any version of Word from the last ten years, including Word Online. If you use these shortcuts often, they become muscle memory fast.

The ribbon method (if you prefer clicking)

Open your Word document and select the text you want to format. On the Home tab in the ribbon at the top, look for the font formatting section. You will see a small downward arrow next to the Bold, Italic, and Underline buttons — click that arrow to open the "Font" dialog box.

In the dialog box, you will see a section called "Effects" with checkboxes for Superscript and Subscript. Check the box next to whichever one you need, then click OK. The text will format when ready.

This method takes a few more clicks than the keyboard shortcut, but it is useful if you forget the keyboard combination or prefer to see the option on screen.

Formatting multiple pieces of text in one document

You do not have to format all your superscript or subscript at once. You can format one number, then later format another one. Each piece of text remembers its own formatting independently.

If you have a lot of superscript or subscript to do — say, a whole page of chemical formulas — the keyboard shortcut will save you time. But if you only have a few instances scattered through the document, either method works fine.

One thing to watch: if you copy and paste text that is already formatted as superscript or subscript, the formatting comes along with it. If you paste into a place where you do not want that formatting, select the pasted text and toggle the superscript or subscript off using the same shortcut or dialog box.

When superscript and subscript do not work the way you expect

Sometimes superscript or subscript text looks too small or positioned oddly. This usually happens if the font you are using does not have good support for these features. Fonts like Calibri, Arial, and Times New Roman handle superscript and subscript well. Some decorative or specialty fonts do not.

If the formatting looks wrong, try changing the font to Calibri or Arial, explore the superscript or subscript again, and see if it looks better. You can always change the font back for the rest of your document.

Another issue: if you are working in Word Online (the free version in your web browser), the keyboard shortcuts work, but the dialog box method is slightly different. Look for the "Aa" button in the toolbar instead of the font formatting arrow.

Superscript and subscript in tables and headers

Superscript and subscript work the same way inside tables as they do in regular text. Select the text in the table cell, use the keyboard shortcut or dialog box, and the formatting applies just to that cell.

Headers and footers also support superscript and subscript. If you need a superscript page number or a subscript note in your header, select the text and format it the same way you would in the body of the document.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make superscript or subscript text a different color?

Yes. Select the superscript or subscript text, then use the font color button in the Home tab to change its color. The color applies only to the selected text, so you can have black superscript in one place and red superscript somewhere else.

What if I need to type a lot of superscript numbers in a row?

Type the first number, select it, explore superscript, then move your cursor to the end of that number and keep typing. Each new character you type will be in superscript until you toggle the formatting off. This is faster than selecting each number individually.

Does superscript and subscript work the same way in Google Docs?

Google Docs has superscript and subscript, but the menu path is different. Highlight your text, then go to Format > Text > Superscript or Subscript. The keyboard shortcuts are Ctrl+. for superscript and Ctrl+, for subscript on Windows.

Can I save a document with superscript and subscript in older versions of Word?

Yes. Superscript and subscript have been in Word for decades and work in any version from the last 15 years. If you save a document with superscript or subscript as a .docx file, the formatting will stay intact when someone opens it in an older version of Word.

What happens to superscript or subscript if I change the font size of the whole paragraph?

The superscript or subscript text scales proportionally with the rest of the paragraph. If you make the paragraph larger, the superscript gets larger too, but stays smaller than the regular text and in the correct position.