The quickest way to make subscript in Word

To make text subscript in Microsoft Word, select the characters you want to shrink and lower, then press Ctrl+= (Ctrl and the equals sign) on Windows, or Cmd+= on Mac. The text will immediately drop below the baseline and become smaller. Press the same keys again to turn subscript off.

This works in Word for Windows, Word for Mac, and Word Online. The keyboard shortcut is the fastest method if you type frequently and want to avoid reaching for your mouse.

Key Takeaways

  • The keyboard shortcut Ctrl+= (Windows) or Cmd+= (Mac) toggles subscript on and off instantly for selected text.
  • You can also use the Home tab, select the Format menu, choose Font, and check the Subscript box if you prefer the menu route.
  • Subscript text is smaller and positioned below the baseline, commonly used for chemical formulas, footnote numbers, and mathematical notation.
  • Word remembers your subscript formatting, so if you type new text while subscript is active, it will stay subscript until you toggle it off.

Using the Format menu if the keyboard shortcut does not work

If the keyboard shortcut does not respond on your computer, the menu route works on all versions. Select the text you want to make subscript, then click the Home tab at the top of the ribbon.

In the ribbon, find the small arrow next to the word Font (it looks like a tiny downward-pointing triangle). Click that arrow to open the Font dialog box. Check the box next to Subscript and click OK. The selected text will drop and shrink.

This method takes a few more clicks but produces the same result. You can use it to undo subscript too — just uncheck the box instead of checking it.

What subscript actually does to your text

Subscript makes text smaller and moves it below the baseline (the invisible line that most letters sit on). The text does not disappear or change — it just repositions and resizes. When you print or save the document, the subscript formatting travels with it.

Common uses are chemical formulas like H₂O, mathematical expressions like x₂, and footnote numbers in academic writing. Some people also use subscript for trademark or copyright symbols, though superscript (the opposite effect, text raised above the baseline) is more standard for those.

Turning subscript off and switching between subscript and superscript

To remove subscript from text, select it again and press Ctrl+= (or Cmd+= on Mac) a second time. The text will return to normal size and position. You can also select the text, open the Font dialog, and uncheck the Subscript box.

If you need superscript instead (text raised above the baseline, used for exponents and footnote markers), the keyboard shortcut is Ctrl+Shift+= on Windows or Cmd+Shift+= on Mac. You cannot have both subscript and superscript on the same character, so toggling one off automatically turns the other off as well.

Subscript stays active while you type

An important detail: once you turn subscript on, any new text you type will be subscript until you turn it off. This is useful if you are typing a long formula or multiple subscript characters in a row — you can turn subscript on once, type everything you need, then turn it off.

If you forget and type a whole word in subscript by accident, just select that word and press Ctrl+= to fix it. Word does not warn you that subscript is active, so pay attention to the status bar or your text as you type.

Subscript in Word Online and mobile versions

Word Online (the browser version you access through Office.com) supports subscript through the Home tab. Select your text, click Home, find the Font dialog arrow, and check Subscript. The keyboard shortcut Ctrl+= also works in Word Online on most browsers.

Word for iPad and Word for iPhone have subscript in their menus, but the process varies slightly depending on your device and which version of the app you have. Open the text formatting menu (usually three dots or a paintbrush icon), look for Font options, and select Subscript from there. Mobile versions do not support the keyboard shortcut.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make subscript text a different size or color?

Yes. Subscript is just a formatting effect, so you can change the font size, color, or style of subscript text the same way you would change any other text. Select the subscript text, then use the font size dropdown, color picker, or bold/italic buttons in the Home tab. The text stays subscript while you change its appearance.

Does subscript work in all fonts?

Subscript works in all fonts, but some fonts display it more clearly than others. Serif fonts like Times New Roman and sans-serif fonts like Calibri both handle subscript well. If your subscript text looks cramped or hard to read, try increasing the overall font size of that section or switching to a cleaner font.

What if the keyboard shortcut does not work on my computer?

The shortcut sometimes fails if your keyboard layout is not set to US English or if you have keyboard remapping software running. Try the menu route instead: Home tab, Font dialog arrow, check Subscript. If that does not work either, restart Word and try again. Keyboard shortcuts occasionally need Word to be restarted to register properly.

Can I save subscript formatting when I convert my document to PDF?

Yes. Subscript formatting is preserved when you save a Word document as a PDF. The text will appear subscript in the PDF the same way it appears in Word. If you are sharing the document with someone else, they will see the subscript formatting regardless of whether they have Word installed.