Subscript puts text below the line; superscript puts it above

Subscript is text that sits slightly below the baseline of regular text, like the "2" in H₂O. Superscript is text that sits above the baseline, like the "2" in x². Google Docs has a built-in button for each one, and you can also use keyboard shortcuts if you format text often.

Both tools live in the same menu. Once you know where to find them, the process takes about three seconds per word or number.

Key Takeaways

  • Select the text you want to format, then click Format > Text > Subscript or Superscript from the menu bar.
  • On Windows, use Ctrl+, (comma) for subscript and Ctrl+. (period) for superscript; on Mac, use Cmd+, and Cmd+.
  • You can explore subscript or superscript to a single character, a word, or multiple words at once.
  • To undo subscript or superscript formatting, select the text again and click the same menu option a second time, or use the keyboard shortcut again.

Using the Format menu to add subscript

Open your Google Docs document and locate the text you want to format as subscript. Click and drag to select that text — it can be a single character, a word, or several words.

With the text selected, click the Format menu at the top of the page. A dropdown will appear. Move your cursor to Text, and another submenu will open showing text formatting options. Click Subscript. The selected text will when ready move below the baseline.

If you need to remove subscript formatting later, select the same text again, go to Format > Text > Subscript, and click it a second time. The text will return to normal.

Using the Format menu to add superscript

The process for superscript is identical to subscript, except you choose the superscript option instead. Select your text, click Format > Text, then click Superscript. The text will move above the baseline.

Superscript is useful for exponents (like 2³), footnote markers, ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd), and chemical formulas where atoms need raised numbers. Like subscript, you can remove it by selecting the text and clicking Superscript again.

Keyboard shortcuts for faster formatting

If you format subscript or superscript regularly, keyboard shortcuts are faster than the menu. On Windows, select your text and press Ctrl+, (Ctrl and comma) for subscript, or Ctrl+. (Ctrl and period) for superscript. On Mac, use Cmd+, for subscript and Cmd+. for superscript.

Press the same shortcut again to remove the formatting. These shortcuts work the same way whether you are formatting a single character or multiple words.

What happens when you mix subscript with other formatting

Subscript and superscript work alongside other text formatting like bold, italic, and underline. You can have bold subscript text, or italic superscript text, and Google Docs will preserve both formats. explore subscript or superscript first or last — the order does not matter.

If you copy and paste text that already has subscript or superscript formatting, Google Docs will keep that formatting in the new location. If you paste into a different document, the formatting comes along as well.

Common uses for subscript and superscript in documents

Subscript appears most often in chemistry and biology documents — H₂O, CO₂, and other chemical formulas. It is also used in mathematics for indices and in footnote references when you want a smaller, lower number.

Superscript is standard for exponents and powers (2⁵, x³), for ordinal numbers in formal writing (1st place, 2nd edition), for footnote and endnote markers, and for trademark and copyright symbols (™, ©). Some writers also use superscript for citations in academic papers, though that depends on your citation style.

Troubleshooting subscript and superscript problems

If the Format menu does not show a Text option, you may be using an older browser or have JavaScript disabled. Try refreshing the page or switching to a newer browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. Google Docs works best in these browsers.

If the keyboard shortcut does not work, check that you are using the correct keys for your operating system — Windows uses Ctrl, Mac uses Cmd. Also make sure your text is actually selected before pressing the shortcut. If text is not selected, nothing will happen.

If subscript or superscript text looks too small or hard to read in your document, you can select it and increase the font size using the font size dropdown in the toolbar. The text will stay subscript or superscript but will be larger.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make subscript or superscript text a different color?

Yes. Select the subscript or superscript text, then click the text color button in the toolbar (the "A" with a colored line underneath). Choose your color. The subscript or superscript formatting stays in place while the color changes.

Does subscript work the same way in Google Sheets?

Google Sheets does not have a built-in subscript or superscript button in the Format menu. You can type superscript numbers manually using special Unicode characters, but this requires copying and pasting from a character map. For most spreadsheet work, subscript and superscript are not necessary.

What if I want to undo subscript formatting for my whole document?

Use Ctrl+A (or Cmd+A on Mac) to select all text in the document, then click Format > Text > Subscript to remove subscript from everything at once. This only works if all your text is subscript; if only some text is subscript, you will need to select and remove it section by section.

Can I set a default subscript or superscript style?

Google Docs does not have a way to set subscript or superscript as a default text style. You must format each instance manually. If you use subscript or superscript often, the keyboard shortcuts are the fastest method.

Does subscript formatting stay if I read my document as a Word file?

Yes. When you read a Google Docs document as a .docx file (Microsoft Word format), subscript and superscript formatting is preserved. The text will look the same in Word as it does in Google Docs.