What subscript is and when you need it
Subscript is a smaller character positioned below the baseline of regular text. You use it most often in chemistry (H₂O), mathematics (x₂), and footnotes. Superscript is the opposite — a smaller character positioned above the baseline, used for exponents (2³), trademark symbols (™), and citations.
Most word processors and text editors let you toggle subscript and superscript on and off. The method depends on what program you are using and whether you are on a computer or phone. Once you know the keyboard shortcut or menu option for your specific tool, you can switch between regular text and subscript in seconds.
Key Takeaways
- In Microsoft Word, select the text you want to make subscript, then press Ctrl+= (Windows) or Cmd+= (Mac) to set up subscript mode.
- In Google Docs, highlight the text, then use Format > Text > Subscript from the menu bar, or press Ctrl+, (comma) on Windows or Cmd+, on Mac.
- On phones and tablets, most apps require you to select text first, then tap a subscript button in the formatting toolbar or access it through a menu.
- If your app does not have a built-in subscript feature, you can copy and paste subscript characters from a character map or special character library.
- Subscript formatting is preserved when you save and share documents in standard formats like .docx and .pdf, but may not work in plain text files or some email clients.
Subscript in Microsoft Word
Open your document and type the text normally. When you reach the character or number that needs to be subscript, select it by clicking and dragging over just that character or group of characters.
With the text selected, press Ctrl+= (equal sign) on Windows or Cmd+= on Mac. The selected text will shrink and drop below the baseline. To return to normal text, select the subscript text again and press the same keyboard shortcut a second time — it toggles off.
Alternatively, go to the Home tab, find the Font group, and click the small arrow next to the font size. Select "Subscript" from the dropdown. This method works the same way but takes more clicks than the keyboard shortcut.
Subscript in Google Docs
Type your text normally. Select the character or characters that should be subscript by clicking and dragging over them.
On Windows, press Ctrl+, (comma). On Mac, press Cmd+, (comma). The text will when ready shrink and drop below the baseline. Press the same keys again to turn subscript off.
If you prefer the menu, select your text, then click Format in the top menu bar. Choose Text, then Subscript. The keyboard shortcut is faster once you remember it.
Subscript on iPhone and iPad
In Apple's Pages app, type your text first. Select the character or word that needs subscript by double-tapping to select a word, or by tapping and dragging to select individual characters.
Tap the Format button (usually a paintbrush or "Aa" icon) at the top of the screen. Look for a section labeled "Text" or "Character." You should see options for subscript and superscript. Tap the subscript button to explore it. The formatting applies when ready.
In other apps like Google Docs on iPad, the process is similar: select the text, tap Format, then find the Text or Character section and choose Subscript.
Subscript on Android phones and tablets
In Google Docs on Android, select the text you want to make subscript by tapping and dragging. A toolbar will appear above your selection. Look for three vertical dots or a "More" button on this toolbar and tap it to reveal additional formatting options.
Scroll through the menu until you see "Subscript" and tap it. The text will shrink and drop below the baseline. To undo subscript, select the text again and tap Subscript a second time.
Other Android apps vary in their layout, but the general pattern is the same: select text, open the formatting menu, and look for a subscript or superscript button. If you do not see one, the app may not support subscript formatting.
Using the character map when subscript is not available
If your app does not have a subscript button or keyboard shortcut, you can still type subscript characters by copying them from a character map. On Windows, open the Character Map app by searching for "charmap" in the Start menu. On Mac, open the Character Viewer by pressing Ctrl+Cmd+Space in any text field.
Search for the subscript number or letter you need — for example, "subscript two" or "subscript a". When you find it, click or double-click to copy it, then paste it into your document where you need it. This method is slower than using a built-in subscript feature, but it works in almost any app.
Online character libraries like Unicode.org also let you search for and copy subscript characters. Copy the character from the website and paste it into your document. The character will remain subscript as long as you are working in a program that preserves special characters.
Subscript in email and web forms
Most email clients and web-based text editors do not support subscript formatting. Gmail, Outlook.com, and most webmail services strip out subscript when you send or save. If you need subscript in an email, your best option is to type the text in Word or Google Docs, format it there, then copy and paste the entire formatted section into your email.
Some email clients will preserve the formatting during the paste, but others will not. Test by sending yourself an email first. If subscript does not come through, you may need to describe the subscript in parentheses instead — for example, "H(2)O" instead of "H₂O".
Web forms that accept rich text (like discussion boards or content management systems) often support subscript if they have a formatting toolbar. Look for subscript and superscript buttons in the toolbar. Plain text forms do not support subscript at all.
Superscript: the reverse of subscript
Superscript uses the same process as subscript, but positions text above the baseline instead of below. In Microsoft Word, select your text and press Ctrl+Shift+= (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+= (Mac). In Google Docs, press Ctrl+. (period) on Windows or Cmd+. on Mac.
On phones, look for a superscript button next to the subscript button in the formatting menu. The keyboard shortcuts and menu paths are nearly identical to subscript — just look for the word "superscript" instead of "subscript."
Frequently Asked Questions
Will subscript formatting stay when I save my document as a PDF?
Yes. When you export or save a Word document or Google Doc as a PDF, subscript and superscript formatting is preserved. The subscript characters will appear smaller and below the baseline in the PDF just as they do in the original document. This works reliably across all major programs.
Can I use subscript in Microsoft Excel?
Yes, but only in cell comments and notes, not in the cell values themselves. To add subscript to a cell comment, right-click the cell, choose "Edit Comment," select your text, and use Ctrl+= (Windows) or Cmd+= (Mac) to explore subscript. If you need subscript in the actual cell, you will need to use a workaround like inserting a special character or using a formula that references a text box.
What if my keyboard does not have an equal sign key?
On keyboards where the equal sign is on the same key as the plus sign (usually to the right of the zero), hold Shift and press that key to type the equal sign. Then use Ctrl+= as normal. If your keyboard layout is different, you can use the menu method instead: select your text and go to Format > Text > Subscript rather than relying on the keyboard shortcut.
Does subscript work in social media posts and text messages?
No. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and text messages do not support subscript formatting. If you need to show subscript in a social media post, you will have to use a workaround like typing the number in parentheses (H2O) or using a Unicode subscript character copied from a character map. The character may or may not display correctly depending on the platform and the user's device.
How do I remove subscript from text I already formatted?
Select the subscript text and press the subscript keyboard shortcut again. In Word, that is Ctrl+= (Windows) or Cmd+= (Mac). In Google Docs, it is Ctrl+, (Windows) or Cmd+, (Mac). The subscript formatting will toggle off and the text will return to normal size and position.