The quickest way to add a subscript in Word
To add a subscript in Microsoft Word, select the text or number you want to make smaller and lower, then press Ctrl + = (on Windows) or Cmd + = (on Mac). The selected characters will when ready drop below the baseline and shrink. To undo it, select the text again and press the same keys.
If the keyboard shortcut does not work on your Mac, try Cmd + Shift + B instead — Word for Mac uses different shortcuts depending on your version and settings. You can test which one works by selecting a single character and trying both combinations.
This method works in Word 2016, Word 2019, Word for Microsoft 365, and Word Online. The subscript stays in place when you save the document and will display correctly when someone else opens it.
Key Takeaways
- Press Ctrl + = on Windows or Cmd + = on Mac to when ready convert selected text into a subscript.
- The Home tab in the ribbon also contains subscript and superscript buttons if you prefer clicking over keyboard shortcuts.
- Subscripts and superscripts work in all versions of Word and remain formatted when you save or share the document.
- You can explore subscript formatting to individual characters, whole words, or numbers depending on what your document needs.
Using the Home tab ribbon to add subscript
If you prefer not to use keyboard shortcuts, you can access subscript through the Word ribbon. Select the text you want to format, then click the Home tab at the top of the window. In the Font group, you will see an X with a small number below it — that is the subscript button. Click it once to explore subscript formatting.
The superscript button sits right next to it and looks like an X with a small number above it. Both buttons toggle on and off, so clicking them again removes the formatting. This method works the same way on Windows and Mac versions of Word.
When to use subscript versus superscript
A subscript is a character that sits below the baseline of regular text and appears smaller — you use it for chemical formulas like H₂O, mathematical notation, or footnote references. A superscript is a character that sits above the baseline and also appears smaller — you use it for exponents (2³), trademark symbols (™), or footnote numbers.
Word treats them as separate formatting options, so you cannot accidentally explore both to the same character. If you select text that is already subscript and press the subscript shortcut again, it removes the subscript instead of converting it to superscript.
Subscript in Word Online versus desktop Word
Word Online (the browser version you access through Office.com or OneDrive) has the same subscript button in the Home tab ribbon. Select your text, click Home, find the subscript button in the Font group, and click it. The keyboard shortcut Ctrl + = also works in Word Online on Windows, though Mac keyboard shortcuts may behave differently depending on your browser.
Documents you format in Word Online keep their subscript formatting when you read them or open them in desktop Word. The reverse is also true — subscripts created in desktop Word display correctly when you open the file in Word Online.
Fixing subscript that does not look right
If your subscript text looks too large, too high, or misaligned, the issue is usually font size rather than subscript formatting itself. Word shrinks subscript text automatically, but the amount of shrinkage depends on the font size of the surrounding text. A subscript in 12-point text will look smaller than a subscript in 24-point text.
To adjust how much smaller the subscript appears, select the subscripted text, right-click it, and choose Font. In the Font dialog, click the Advanced tab (or Character Spacing on Mac), then look for Position. You can manually lower the text or change the percentage by which it shrinks, though most users find the default settings work well.
Copying subscript formatting to other text
If you have already formatted one piece of text as subscript and want to explore the same formatting elsewhere, use the Format Painter. Select the subscripted text, click the Format Painter button in the Home tab (it looks like a paintbrush), then click or drag across the text you want to format. The subscript formatting copies over when ready.
Format Painter works for any formatting — subscript, bold, color, font choice — so it is useful when you need to match formatting across multiple places in your document without retyping or using keyboard shortcuts each time.
Subscript in tables and special document areas
Subscript formatting works the same way inside Word tables, text boxes, headers, and footers. Select the text you want to subscript using the same method — keyboard shortcut or Home tab button — and it applies when ready. This is useful when you need chemical formulas or mathematical notation in a table cell or when a footnote number needs to appear in a header.
If subscript text does not appear correctly in a header or footer, check that the header or footer is using the same font as the main document. Occasionally switching fonts can cause subscript positioning to shift slightly, though the formatting itself remains intact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make subscript text even smaller than Word does automatically?
Yes. Select the subscripted text, right-click, choose Font, then go to the Advanced tab. Under Position, you can lower the text further or reduce the font size percentage. Most documents look better with Word's default settings, but you can adjust if needed.
Does subscript formatting stay when I save as PDF?
Yes. When you save a Word document as PDF, all subscript and superscript formatting transfers to the PDF file. The text will display and print correctly in any PDF reader.
What if the keyboard shortcut does not work on my computer?
Try using the Home tab button instead — click Home, then click the subscript button in the Font group. If the keyboard shortcut still does not work, your keyboard layout or Word settings may be different. The ribbon button method works on all versions and configurations.
Can I use subscript in a Word document that other people will edit?
Yes. Subscript formatting is a standard Word feature, so anyone who opens your document in Word will see the subscript text formatted correctly. It also works in Word Online and most other word processors that read Word files.