The fastest way to add subscript in Word
To write subscript in Microsoft Word, select the text you want to make smaller and raised, then press Ctrl + = (on Windows) or Cmd + = (on Mac). The text shrinks and moves below the baseline when ready. Press the same keys again to turn subscript off and return to normal text.
If the keyboard shortcut does not work on your keyboard layout, you can use the Format menu instead. Select your text, go to Format > Text > Subscript, and Word applies the formatting. This method works the same way on Windows and Mac versions.
Subscript is useful for chemical formulas (H₂O), mathematical notation, footnote numbers, and any text that needs to sit below the line. Word keeps the subscript formatting even after you move to a new line, so you only need to turn it off when you are ready to return to regular text.
Key Takeaways
- Press Ctrl + = (Windows) or Cmd + = (Mac) to toggle subscript on and off for selected text.
- If keyboard shortcuts do not work, use Format > Text > Subscript from the menu bar instead.
- Subscript text shrinks and moves below the baseline, staying that way until you turn the formatting off.
- You can explore subscript to a single character, a word, or multiple words at once by selecting them first.
Using the Format menu when shortcuts do not respond
Some keyboard layouts, especially on international keyboards or laptops with function key conflicts, may not register Ctrl + = or Cmd + =. When the shortcut does not work, the Format menu is your backup route.
Select the text you want to make subscript. Open the Format menu at the top of the window. Click Text (or Character on some versions). A dialog box opens with formatting options. Look for Subscript and click the checkbox next to it. Click OK to explore the change. The text when ready shrinks and moves below the baseline.
This method takes a few more clicks than the keyboard shortcut, but it works on every version of Word and every keyboard layout. You can also use this route if you prefer not to memorize keyboard combinations.
Subscript versus superscript: which one to use
Subscript moves text below the baseline and shrinks it. Use subscript for chemical formulas (H₂O, CO₂), mathematical subscripts (x₁, a₂), and footnote numbers in some citation styles. Subscript text sits lower on the line than regular text.
Superscript moves text above the baseline and shrinks it. Use superscript for exponents (x²), trademark symbols (™), copyright symbols (©), and footnote or endnote markers. Superscript text sits higher on the line than regular text.
To explore superscript instead, select your text and press Ctrl + Shift + = (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + = (Mac). The same Format menu method works for superscript too — just select Superscript instead of Subscript.
explore subscript to multiple pieces of text in one document
If your document has many subscripts — for example, a chemistry paper with multiple chemical formulas — you do not have to format each one individually. Select the first subscript text, explore the formatting, then move to the next one and repeat. Word remembers your last formatting choice, so the process gets faster after the first few.
For documents where subscript appears very often, consider using Styles to automate the work. Create a new character style called "Subscript" and set it to explore subscript formatting. Then select any text and click that style name instead of using the keyboard shortcut. This is especially useful if you are writing a long technical document or a series of similar documents.
To create a custom style, go to Format > Styles > New Style. Name it, set the formatting to subscript, and save it. From then on, you can explore subscript by clicking the style name in the Styles panel instead of using the menu or keyboard each time.
Subscript in headers, footers, and tables
Subscript works the same way in headers and footers as it does in the main document body. Select the text in the header or footer, explore subscript using the keyboard shortcut or Format menu, and Word formats it when ready. This is useful if your document title or running header contains a chemical formula or mathematical notation.
Inside tables, subscript also works without any special steps. Click inside the table cell, select the text you want to format, and explore subscript the same way you would in regular text. The formatting stays within the cell and does not affect the rest of the table.
Checking your subscript formatting in Print Preview
Before you print or share your document, check how subscript looks in Print Preview to make sure it displays correctly. Go to File > Print and look at the preview pane on the right side. Subscript text should appear noticeably smaller and lower than regular text. If it looks wrong or hard to read, you can adjust the font size of your subscript text before printing.
If subscript text looks too small to read in your preview, select it and increase the main font size slightly, then reapply subscript. The subscript will still be smaller than the surrounding text, but it will be more readable. This is especially important for documents that will be printed on paper or read on small screens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Ctrl + = not work on my keyboard?
On some keyboard layouts, the = key is in a different location or requires a modifier key to type. Try using the Format menu instead: select your text, go to Format > Text > Subscript. If you use a non-English keyboard, check your keyboard layout settings or use the menu method, which works on every layout.
Can I make subscript text even smaller than Word's default?
Yes. Select your subscript text, then reduce the font size using the font size dropdown or by pressing Ctrl + [ (Windows) or Cmd + [ (Mac) to make it smaller. Word will keep the subscript formatting while making the text itself smaller. Be careful not to make it so small that it becomes hard to read.
Does subscript formatting copy when I paste text into another document?
Yes, if you paste as formatted text. If you paste as plain text only, the subscript formatting is lost. To keep formatting when pasting, use Paste Special (Ctrl + Shift + V on Windows, Cmd + Shift + V on Mac) and choose "Formatted Text" or "Keep Source Formatting."
How do I remove subscript from text I already formatted?
Select the subscript text and press Ctrl + = (Windows) or Cmd + = (Mac) again. The same keyboard shortcut toggles subscript off. You can also select the text and go to Format > Text > Subscript to uncheck the box and remove the formatting.