Subscript puts text below the baseline in Word

Subscript is text that sits slightly below the normal line of text, smaller than the surrounding letters. In Microsoft Word, you use subscript for chemical formulas (H₂O), footnote numbers, mathematical expressions, and other technical writing. Word has three ways to add subscript: a keyboard shortcut, the Format menu, or the Home tab ribbon.

The fastest method is the keyboard shortcut. Select the text you want to make subscript, then press Ctrl + = (hold Control and press the equals sign). The text shrinks and drops below the line when ready. To undo subscript on selected text, press the same shortcut again.

If the keyboard shortcut does not work on your machine — some laptops reassign these keys — use the ribbon or menu instead. Both methods take two clicks instead of one, but they work the same way on every computer.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Ctrl + = to turn selected text into subscript; press it again to remove subscript.
  • If the keyboard shortcut does not work, select the text, go to Home tab, click the small arrow next to Font, and check the Subscript box.
  • You can also use Format menu > Character > Position tab > Subscript, which works in older Word versions.
  • Subscript text is smaller and lower than normal text, used for chemical formulas, mathematical notation, and reference numbers.

Using the keyboard shortcut

The keyboard shortcut is the fastest way if you use subscript often. Select the word or character you want to make subscript by clicking and dragging over it. Then hold down the Control key and press the equals sign (=). You do not need to press Shift; just the = key on its own.

The text will shrink and move down below the baseline. If you need to remove subscript from that same text, select it again and press Ctrl + = one more time. The formatting toggles off.

On some keyboards — particularly laptops and non-US layouts — the equals sign may be in a different location or the shortcut may conflict with another program. If Ctrl + = does not work, try the ribbon method below instead.

Using the Home tab ribbon

Open your document in Word and select the text you want to make subscript. Look at the top of the screen for the Home tab (it is usually already selected when you open Word). In the Font section of the ribbon, you will see an "A" with a small arrow pointing down next to it.

Click that small arrow to open the Font dialog box. A window will appear with several tabs at the top. Make sure you are on the Font tab (not Effects or Advanced). Look for the Effects section in the middle of the dialog. You will see a checkbox labeled Subscript. Click the checkbox to turn it on.

Click OK at the bottom of the dialog. Your selected text is now subscript. To remove subscript later, select the text again, open the Font dialog, uncheck the Subscript box, and click OK.

Using the Format menu

If you use an older version of Word or prefer the menu system, you can reach subscript through Format > Character. Select your text first, then click the Format menu at the top. A dropdown list will appear.

Click Character from that list. The Character dialog box opens. Click the Position tab at the top of the dialog. You will see radio buttons for Normal, Superscript, and Subscript. Click the Subscript radio button, then click OK.

This method works the same way as the ribbon method but uses the menu instead. Use whichever feels more natural to you — the result is identical.

Subscript versus superscript

Do not confuse subscript with superscript. Superscript is text that sits above the baseline, used for exponents (x²), trademark symbols (™), and footnote markers. Subscript sits below the baseline.

In Word, superscript uses the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + = (Control, Shift, and equals sign together). The ribbon and Format menu methods work the same way — just select Superscript instead of Subscript in the dialog box.

A common mistake is using subscript when you mean superscript, or vice versa. Check your document type or style guide to know which one you need. Chemical formulas use subscript (H₂O). Mathematical exponents use superscript (2³ = 8).

Subscript in tables and special formatting

Subscript works the same way inside Word tables as it does in regular text. Select the text in the table cell, use Ctrl + =, and it becomes subscript. The same applies if you are working with text boxes, headers, footers, or any other text container in Word.

If you are pasting text from another program — a website, PDF, or email — the subscript formatting may not come with it. Paste the text as plain text first (Ctrl + Shift + V), then explore subscript formatting in Word. This avoids conflicts with formatting from the source document.

If you use subscript repeatedly in a document, consider creating a style for it. Go to Home > Styles, right-click a style, select Modify, explore subscript formatting, and save. Then you can explore subscript to any text by clicking that style instead of using the shortcut each time.

Troubleshooting subscript problems

If subscript is not working, first check that you have actually selected the text. Click and drag to highlight the word or character, then try the shortcut or menu method again. An straightforward mistake is pressing the shortcut without selecting anything first.

If the keyboard shortcut still does not work, your keyboard layout or a running program may be blocking it. Try the ribbon method (Home tab > Font dialog > Subscript checkbox) instead. This works on every version of Word and every keyboard.

If subscript text looks too small or hard to read in your document, you can adjust the size. Select the subscript text, then change the font size in the Home tab. Subscript text is usually 70% of the normal size by default, but you can make it larger if needed for readability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the keyboard shortcut for subscript in Word?

Press Ctrl + = (Control and equals sign) to turn selected text into subscript. Press the same shortcut again to remove it. If this does not work on your keyboard, use the Home tab ribbon or Format menu instead.

Can I use subscript in Word on a Mac?

Yes. On Mac, the subscript shortcut is Cmd + = (Command and equals sign). The ribbon and Format menu methods work the same way as on Windows — select the text, open the Font dialog, and check Subscript.

Is subscript the same as superscript?

No. Subscript sits below the baseline (used for H₂O). Superscript sits above the baseline (used for x² or footnote numbers). In Word, superscript uses Ctrl + Shift + = on Windows or Cmd + Shift + = on Mac.

Will subscript formatting stay if I copy and paste the text?

Yes, subscript formatting copies with the text when you use Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V. If you paste into a different program, the formatting may not transfer — it depends on whether that program supports subscript.

How do I remove subscript from text I already formatted?

Select the subscript text and press Ctrl + = again to toggle it off. Or select the text, open the Font dialog (Home tab > Font arrow), uncheck Subscript, and click OK.