Apply Superscript or Subscript in Microsoft Word (3 Ways)
by Avantix Learning Team | Updated October 14, 2022
Applies to: Microsoft® Word® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 365 (Windows)
You can apply superscript or subscript in Microsoft Word using keyboard shortcuts, buttons on the Ribbon or the Font dialog box. If you apply superscript, the selected letter, number or symbol will be raised slightly above the line of text and sized to a smaller size. If you apply subscript, the selection will be lowered slightly below the line of text and sized to a smaller size.
Certain features in Word, such as footnotes, automatically create superscripted characters.
It's common to use superscript or subscript for:
- Symbols such as trademark or copyright symbols
- Mathematical equations
- Chemical formulas
- Footnote characters or numbers
In the sample below, superscript has been applied to the registered trademark symbol:
XYZ Manufacturing Ltd. ®
Recommended article: 3 Strikethrough Shortcuts in Microsoft Word
Do you want to learn more about Microsoft Word? Check out our virtual classroom or in-person classroom Word courses >
Apply or remove superscript or subscript using a keyboard shortcut
To apply superscript or subscript using a keyboard shortcut:
- Select the text character, number or symbol to which you want to apply superscript or subscript.
- To apply superscript, press Ctrl + Shift + equal sign (=). To apply subscript, press Ctrl + equal sign (=).
Note: We're using the equal sign at the top of the keyboard.
To remove or turn off superscript or subscript using a keyboard shortcut:
- Select the text, number or symbol with superscript or subscript you want to remove.
- To remove superscript, press Ctrl + Shift + equal sign (=). To remove subscript, press Ctrl + equal sign (=).
Apply or remove superscript or subscript using buttons in the Ribbon
In Word (not PowerPoint), there are buttons in the Ribbon for superscript and subscript.
To apply superscript or subscript using buttons in the Ribbon:
- Select the text character, number or symbol to which you want to apply superscript or subscript.
- Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
- Click Superscript or Subscript in the Font group (X buttons).
Below are the buttons in the Font group in Word (note the X buttons):
To remove superscript or subscript using buttons in the Ribbon:
- Select the text, number or symbol with superscript or subscript you want to remove.
- Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
- Click Superscript or Subscript in the Font group.
Apply or remove superscript or subscript using the Font dialog box
Since superscript and subscript are character formats that can be applied to text or a symbol, the most common way to apply them is to use the Font dialog box. You can select or deselect check boxes to apply or remove superscript or subscript.
To apply superscript or subscript:
- Select the text character, number or symbol to which you want to apply superscript or subscript.
- Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
- Click the dialog box launcher on the bottom right of the Font group (corner button). Alternatively, press Ctrl + D. A dialog box appears.
- Select the Superscript or Subscript check box or press Alt + the underlined character.
- Click OK or press Enter.
Below is the Font dialog box in Microsoft Word:
To remove or turn off superscript or subscript:
- Select the text, number or symbol with superscript or subscript you want to remove.
- Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
- Click the dialog box launcher on the bottom right of the Font group (corner button). Alternatively, press Ctrl + D. A dialog box appears.
- Select the Superscript or Subscript check box to deselect it.
- Click OK or press Enter.
The benefit of using the keyboard shortcut method is the keyboard shortcuts are the same in other programs.
This article was first published on September 9, 2020 and has been updated for clarity and content.
Subscribe to get more articles like this one
Did you find this article helpful? If you would like to receive new articles, JOIN our email list.
More resources
How to Create a Table of Contents in Word
How to Add Page Numbers in Word (Step by Step)
How to View Word Count in Microsoft Word (4 Ways)
How to Find and Replace in Word (and Use Wildcards)
How to Insert or Type the Degree Symbol in Word (5 Ways to Insert °)
Related courses
Microsoft Word: Intermediate / Advanced
Microsoft Excel: Intermediate / Advanced
Microsoft PowerPoint: Intermediate / Advanced
Microsoft Word: Long Documents Master Class
Microsoft Word: Styles, Templates and Tables of Contents
Microsoft Word: Designing Dynamic Word Documents Using Fields
Our instructor-led courses are delivered in virtual classroom format or at our downtown Toronto location at 18 King Street East, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (some in-person classroom courses may also be delivered at an alternate downtown Toronto location). Contact us at info@avantixlearning.ca if you'd like to arrange custom instructor-led virtual classroom or onsite training on a date that's convenient for you.
Copyright 2024 Avantix® Learning
You may also like
10 Word Shortcuts to Select Text Using a Keyboard
You can use several shortcuts in Word to select text in your documents using only your keyboard. When you select text, it will typically be highlighted in grey. After you select text, you can cut, copy, or delete the selected text or apply character or paragraph formatting.
How to Generate Random Text in Word
If you are creating a Microsoft Word document, template or mockup and you want to create placeholder text, you can generate random text using the built-in RAND function or LOREM function (which generates Latin or Lorem ipsum text).
How to Center Text Vertically in a Word Table (and Fix Common Issues)
You can center or align text vertically in cells in a Word table using commands in the Table Design or Table Tools Design tab in the Ribbon. If the text doesn't seem to align correctly, there are several common issues that may be affecting the alignment including extra blank paragraphs, paragraph spacing and cell margins.
Microsoft, the Microsoft logo, Microsoft Office and related Microsoft applications and logos are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in Canada, US and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of the registered owners.
Avantix Learning |18 King Street East, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5C 1C4 | Contact us at info@avantixlearning.ca
