The quickest way to add subscript in Word

To add subscript in Microsoft Word, select the text you want to make smaller and lower, then press Ctrl + = (on Windows) or Cmd + = (on Mac). The text will shrink and drop below the baseline immediately. To undo it, select the text again and press the same keys.

If you prefer using the menu, select your text, then go to the Home tab and click the subscript button in the Font group — it looks like an "x" with a small number below it. The button sits right next to the superscript button (an "x" with a small number above it).

Word remembers your choice. Once you turn subscript on, anything you type will be subscript until you turn it off by pressing the same key combination again or clicking the button a second time.

Key Takeaways

  • Subscript uses the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + = on Windows or Cmd + = on Mac, and the same shortcut turns it off.
  • You can also find the subscript button in the Home tab under Font, next to the superscript button.
  • Subscript works on text you select first, or you can turn it on and type new subscript text, then turn it off when you are done.
  • Superscript uses Ctrl + Shift + = on Windows or Cmd + Shift + = on Mac, and follows the same on-off toggle.

Using the Format menu for subscript

If the keyboard shortcut does not work or you prefer a menu path, you can reach subscript through Format. Select the text you want to change, then click Format in the menu bar, choose Text, and select Subscript.

This route takes longer than the keyboard shortcut, but it works the same way — the text shrinks and lowers, and clicking the same menu path again removes the subscript. Some versions of Word place this option under Format > Character instead, depending on whether you are using Word on Windows, Mac, or online.

Superscript: the opposite of subscript

Superscript raises text above the baseline and makes it smaller — the opposite of subscript. Use Ctrl + Shift + = on Windows or Cmd + Shift + = on Mac. You can also select text and click the superscript button in the Home tab (the "x" with a raised number).

Superscript is common for footnote numbers, trademark symbols, and mathematical exponents. Like subscript, it toggles on and off with the same key combination, so you can type superscript text, press the keys again to turn it off, and continue with normal text.

Subscript in equations and chemical formulas

Subscript is essential for writing chemical formulas like H₂O or mathematical expressions. Select each number or letter that should be subscript and press Ctrl + = (Windows) or Cmd + = (Mac). If you are writing many formulas, you may find it faster to type the whole formula first, then go back and subscript each part.

Word also has an Equation tool for more complex math. Click Insert > Equation to open a dedicated editor where subscript and superscript are built-in formatting options. This is useful if you are writing a document with many equations, because the equation editor handles spacing and alignment automatically.

Subscript in footnotes and citations

When you insert a footnote or endnote in Word, the reference number is automatically superscript — you do not need to format it yourself. Word handles this formatting when you click Insert > Footnote or Insert > Endnote.

If you are manually typing a citation or reference that needs a superscript number, select the number and use Ctrl + Shift + = (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + = (Mac). This is different from subscript, but the same toggle method applies.

Removing subscript and superscript

To remove subscript or superscript, select the formatted text and press the same key combination you used to add it. Pressing Ctrl + = again turns off subscript; pressing Ctrl + Shift + = again turns off superscript. You can also click the subscript or superscript button in the Home tab a second time to toggle it off.

If you have a block of text with mixed formatting and want to remove all subscript or superscript at once, select the entire block, then press Ctrl + Spacebar (Windows) or Cmd + Spacebar (Mac) to clear all direct formatting. This removes subscript, superscript, bold, italic, and other formatting you applied directly — it does not affect styles or theme formatting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my subscript keyboard shortcut not work?

On some keyboards, especially laptops, you may need to hold Fn (Function) along with Ctrl and =. If that does not work, use the Home tab button instead. Some keyboard layouts also require you to press Shift to reach the = key, so try Ctrl + Shift + = if Ctrl + = does not respond.

Can I make subscript a different size or color?

Yes. After applying subscript, select the text again and use the font size dropdown in the Home tab to make it larger or smaller, or use the font color button to change its color. Subscript is just formatting applied on top of the text — you can modify any other property the same way you would for normal text.

Does subscript work in Word Online?

Yes. The keyboard shortcuts work in Word Online on Windows (Ctrl + =) and Mac (Cmd + =). You can also use the Home tab button. Word Online has the same subscript and superscript buttons as the desktop version, though the menu paths may look slightly different.

What is the difference between subscript and just making text smaller?

Subscript lowers the text below the baseline and shrinks it — it is a single formatting action. Making text smaller only changes the font size, so it stays on the same line as surrounding text. Subscript is the correct format for chemical formulas, mathematical notation, and footnote references because it positions the text correctly.