The quickest way to add subscript in Word

To add subscript in Word, select the text you want to make smaller and raised, then press Ctrl+= (Ctrl and the equals sign) on Windows, or Cmd+= on Mac. The selected text will immediately shrink and shift downward. Press the same keys again to remove subscript and return the text to normal size.

If the keyboard shortcut does not work on your keyboard layout, you can use the menu instead: select your text, go to the Home tab, find the Font group, click the small arrow in the bottom right corner of that group to open the Font dialog, then check the Subscript box and click OK.

Subscript is useful for chemical formulas (H₂O), mathematical notation, and footnote numbers. Word treats subscript as a character formatting option, so you can apply it to individual letters, numbers, or entire words within a sentence.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Ctrl+= (Windows) or Cmd+= (Mac) to toggle subscript on and off for selected text.
  • If the keyboard shortcut does not work, use Home > Font dialog > Subscript checkbox instead.
  • Subscript shrinks text and lowers it slightly, while superscript does the opposite and raises text above the line.
  • You can apply subscript to a single character or multiple words, and remove it the same way you applied it.

Using the Format menu when the keyboard shortcut does not work

Some keyboard layouts, particularly outside the United States, may not have an equals sign in the same location, or the shortcut may conflict with another program running on your computer. In those cases, the menu method is more reliable.

Select the text first. Then click the Home tab at the top of the ribbon. In the Font group (the section with bold, italic, and underline buttons), look for a small arrow pointing downward in the bottom right corner. Click that arrow to open the Font dialog box. Check the box next to Subscript, then click OK. The text will immediately change.

This same dialog also contains the Superscript option if you need text raised above the line instead of lowered below it. Both options appear as checkboxes in the same location.

Subscript versus superscript and when to use each

Subscript makes text smaller and lowers it below the baseline of the surrounding text. Superscript makes text smaller and raises it above the baseline. The keyboard shortcut for superscript is Ctrl+Shift+= on Windows or Cmd+Shift+= on Mac.

Use subscript for chemical formulas (H₂O, CO₂), mathematical subscripts (x₁, x₂), and some footnote or reference systems. Use superscript for exponents (x²), trademark symbols (™), registered marks (®), and footnote numbers in some citation styles.

Word does not automatically convert numbers to superscript or subscript — you must select them and apply the formatting yourself. This gives you control over which numbers or letters are formatted and which are not.

Removing subscript formatting

To remove subscript, select the subscripted text and press the same keyboard shortcut again. Ctrl+= on Windows or Cmd+= on Mac will toggle subscript off, returning the text to normal size and position.

If you used the menu method to apply subscript, you can remove it the same way: select the text, open the Font dialog, uncheck the Subscript box, and click OK. Either method works equally well.

If you have applied subscript to the wrong text by mistake, you can undo the change immediately by pressing Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Cmd+Z (Mac), which will reverse your last action.

Subscript in different Word versions

The keyboard shortcut and menu location are the same in Word 2019, Word 2021, and Microsoft 365 (the subscription version). The Home tab and Font group have remained in the same place across these versions, so the instructions above work for all of them.

If you are using an older version of Word (2010 or earlier), the ribbon layout may differ slightly, but the Font dialog box still contains the Subscript checkbox. You can also access it through Format > Character instead of the Home tab if the ribbon is not visible.

Web-based Word (Word Online) also supports subscript through the Home tab, though the exact button locations may vary slightly depending on your screen size and which buttons you have pinned to your toolbar.

Common uses for subscript in documents

Chemistry and science writing use subscript heavily for chemical formulas and molecular notation. H₂O, NaCl, and C₆H₁₂O₆ are all clearer and more professional-looking with subscript numbers than with regular text like H2O.

Mathematics and engineering documents use subscript for variables and indices, such as x₁ + x₂ = y or a₀, a₁, a₂ in sequences. Legal and academic writing sometimes use subscript for footnote markers, though superscript is more common in English-language documents.

If you are writing a document that requires many subscript or superscript characters, consider using Word's styles feature to create a custom style with subscript already applied. This saves time if you need to format the same type of text repeatedly throughout your document.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make subscript text a different size or color?

Yes. Subscript is just a formatting option, so you can apply other formatting to it. Select the subscripted text and use the font size dropdown, font color button, or bold and italic buttons to change its appearance. The text will remain subscripted while you change these other properties.

What if the Ctrl+= shortcut types an equals sign instead of making subscript?

This usually means your keyboard layout does not have the equals sign in the expected location, or another program is intercepting the shortcut. Use the menu method instead: Home > Font dialog > Subscript checkbox. You can also try remapping the shortcut in Word's options if you use subscript frequently.

Does subscript work the same way in Word tables?

Yes. Select the text inside a table cell and use the same keyboard shortcut or menu method. Subscript formatting works identically whether the text is in a regular paragraph or inside a table.

Can I copy and paste subscript text to other programs?

It depends on the program. Subscript formatting will copy to other Microsoft Office programs like Excel and PowerPoint. Pasting into plain text editors or web browsers may lose the subscript formatting, though some web applications preserve it.