How to type superscript and subscript without using menus

Superscript raises text above the baseline — like the "2" in E=mc². Subscript lowers text below it — like the "2" in H₂O. Both have keyboard shortcuts that work across most programs. In Microsoft Word and Excel, press Ctrl+Shift+Plus (the plus key on your keyboard) for superscript and Ctrl+Minus for subscript. In Google Docs, use Ctrl+Shift+Period for superscript and Ctrl+Comma for subscript. On a Mac, substitute Cmd for Ctrl in all of these.

The shortcuts work the same way: select the text you want to raise or lower, then press the key combination. The formatting applies when ready. If you want to type more text at normal height afterward, press the same shortcut again to turn it off, or just click elsewhere and start typing normally.

Key Takeaways

  • In Word and Excel on Windows, Ctrl+Shift+Plus makes superscript and Ctrl+Minus makes subscript.
  • In Google Docs on Windows, Ctrl+Shift+Period makes superscript and Ctrl+Comma makes subscript.
  • On Mac, use Cmd instead of Ctrl in all shortcuts.
  • Select the text first, press the shortcut, then press it again to turn off the formatting and return to normal text.
  • These shortcuts work in most word processors and spreadsheets, though some programs may use different key combinations.

Superscript shortcuts by program

Microsoft Word and Excel use the same shortcut for superscript on both Windows and Mac. On Windows, select your text and press Ctrl+Shift+Plus. On Mac, select your text and press Cmd+Shift+Plus. The plus key is the one on your main keyboard, not the numpad.

Google Docs uses a different shortcut. On Windows, select the text and press Ctrl+Shift+Period (the period key). On Mac, press Cmd+Shift+Period. This works in Google Sheets as well as Google Docs.

LibreOffice Writer, which is free and open-source, uses Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows and Cmd+Shift+P on Mac. Apple Pages uses Cmd+Shift+Plus on Mac only. If you use a different program, check its help menu or keyboard shortcuts list — the pattern is usually a Ctrl or Cmd key combined with Shift and another key.

Subscript shortcuts by program

In Microsoft Word and Excel on Windows, press Ctrl+Minus (the minus or hyphen key) to make subscript. On Mac, press Cmd+Minus. Like superscript, this works on the main keyboard, not the numpad.

Google Docs and Google Sheets use Ctrl+Comma on Windows and Cmd+Comma on Mac. LibreOffice Writer uses Ctrl+Shift+B on Windows and Cmd+Shift+B on Mac. Apple Pages uses Cmd+Minus on Mac.

The minus key and comma key are in different places depending on your keyboard layout, so if the shortcut does not work, check that you are pressing the right key. On some keyboards, the minus key is next to the zero; on others, it is on the numpad.

Turning off superscript and subscript

Once you have applied superscript or subscript to text, you need to turn it off before you type normally again. The easiest way is to press the same shortcut a second time. If you just pressed Ctrl+Shift+Plus to make superscript, press Ctrl+Shift+Plus again, and the next text you type will be at normal height.

Alternatively, you can click at the end of the superscript or subscript text, press the right arrow key to move past it, and then start typing. The formatting will not carry forward. Some people find it faster to select the text they want to format, explore the shortcut, and then click elsewhere to deselect — this way they do not have to remember to turn off the formatting.

When shortcuts do not work

If a shortcut does not work, the most common reason is that you forgot to select the text first. Superscript and subscript shortcuts only work on text that is already highlighted. Select the text, then press the shortcut.

On some keyboards, especially laptops, the Plus key may be hard to reach or may require holding Shift as well. If Ctrl+Shift+Plus does not work in Word, try using the Format menu instead: click Format, then Text, then Superscript. This is slower but works on any keyboard.

If you are using a non-English keyboard layout, the key positions may be different. The shortcut still uses the same logical key (the plus key, the minus key, the period key), but it may be in a different physical location. Check your keyboard layout settings if shortcuts are not working.

Using superscript and subscript in formulas and citations

In spreadsheets like Excel or Google Sheets, superscript and subscript are mostly for display — they do not change how the program reads the data. If you type H₂O in a cell, the spreadsheet still sees it as text, not as a chemical formula. Use superscript and subscript when you are writing notes, labels, or explanatory text in a spreadsheet, not when you are entering data that needs to be calculated.

In Word, superscript is useful for footnote numbers, endnote numbers, and citations. Many citation styles use superscript numbers in the text that link to a footnote or bibliography. Word can handle this automatically if you use the Insert menu to add footnotes, but you can also format numbers manually with the Ctrl+Shift+Plus shortcut.

For chemical formulas, mathematical exponents, and scientific notation, superscript and subscript are standard. Just remember that they are formatting only — the underlying text or number does not change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these shortcuts work on my phone or tablet?

Most phone and tablet apps do not have keyboard shortcuts for superscript and subscript. Instead, look for a formatting menu or toolbar button. In Google Docs on mobile, tap the text, then tap the three-dot menu and look for text formatting options. Microsoft Word on mobile has a similar menu. Desktop shortcuts do not translate to touch screens.

What if I need to use superscript in an email?

Gmail does not have a keyboard shortcut for superscript or subscript. You can use the formatting toolbar: highlight the text, click the three-dot menu in the compose window, and look for text formatting options. Outlook on the web and desktop both support Ctrl+Shift+Plus for superscript and Ctrl+Minus for subscript, the same as Word.

Can I use these shortcuts in PowerPoint?

Yes. Microsoft PowerPoint supports Ctrl+Shift+Plus for superscript and Ctrl+Minus for subscript on Windows, and Cmd+Shift+Plus and Cmd+Minus on Mac. Select the text in your slide first, then press the shortcut. This works the same way as in Word.

Why does my superscript look too small?

Superscript and subscript are automatically sized smaller than regular text. If it looks too small to read, you can select it and increase the font size manually. Highlight the superscript text, then increase the font size in the toolbar or with Ctrl+Shift+Greater Than (on Windows) or Cmd+Shift+Greater Than (on Mac). This will make it larger while keeping it raised.