The fastest way to add subscripts on a Mac

To type a subscript on a Mac, use the keyboard shortcut Command + Control + B while your text cursor is positioned right after the character or number you want to make smaller and lower. This works in most Mac applications including Pages, Word, Google Docs, and Mail. The text you type after pressing the shortcut will appear as subscript until you press the same shortcut again to turn it off.

If that shortcut does not work in your application, you can use the Format menu instead. Select the text you want to make subscript, then go to Format > Text > Baseline > Subscript. The exact menu path varies slightly between applications — in Microsoft Word it is Format > Character > Effects tab — but the principle is the same.

Key Takeaways

  • Command + Control + B is the built-in Mac shortcut for subscript in most applications, and you toggle it on and off with the same key combination.
  • If the keyboard shortcut does not work, use the Format menu and look for a Baseline or Character option that includes subscript.
  • Google Docs uses Format > Text > Subscript, while Microsoft Word uses Format > Character > Effects.
  • You can also create a custom keyboard shortcut in System Settings if you use subscripts frequently in a particular application.

Using the Format menu when the keyboard shortcut fails

Some applications do not respond to Command + Control + B. In those cases, the Format menu is your backup. First, select the text or number you want to convert to subscript by clicking and dragging across it. Then open the Format menu at the top of the window.

In Pages, go to Format > Text > Baseline > Subscript. In Microsoft Word, go to Format > Character, then click the Effects tab and check the Subscript box. In Google Docs, go to Format > Text > Subscript. In Apple Mail, select the text and go to Format > Text > Baseline > Subscript. The location shifts between applications, but you are always looking for a word like "Baseline," "Character," or "Text" followed by a subscript option.

Subscripts in specific applications

Microsoft Word for Mac responds to Command + Control + B in most cases, but if it does not, use Format > Character > Effects tab > Subscript checkbox. You can also right-click the selected text and choose Character from the context menu, which opens the same dialog.

Google Docs does not use the Command + Control + B shortcut. Instead, select your text and use Format > Text > Subscript. There is no keyboard shortcut built in, but you can create one in your browser settings if you use it often.

Pages supports Command + Control + B natively. If you prefer the menu, go to Format > Text > Baseline > Subscript. Numbers and Keynote also support the keyboard shortcut in text boxes and cells.

Apple Mail supports Command + Control + B in the message body. If you are composing in Rich Text format and the shortcut does not work, switch to Format > Text > Baseline > Subscript.

Creating a custom keyboard shortcut for subscript

If you use subscripts regularly in an application that does not support Command + Control + B, you can create your own shortcut. Open System Settings, go to Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > App Shortcuts, and click the plus button. Select the application from the dropdown, type the exact menu path (for example, "Format > Text > Subscript" in Google Docs), and assign a key combination you will remember.

Choose a shortcut that does not conflict with existing commands. Many people use Command + Shift + B or Command + Option + B. Once you save it, the shortcut will work only in that application. If you want the same shortcut across multiple apps, you need to add it separately to each one.

Typing subscripts in plain text and email

If you are working in plain text, email, or a chat application that does not support formatting, you cannot create true subscripts. Some people use workarounds like typing the number in parentheses (H2O becomes H(2)O) or using Unicode characters, but these are not real subscripts — they are just text that looks similar.

If your email or messaging app supports rich text formatting, switch to that mode first. In Apple Mail, this is the default. In Gmail, click the formatting icon (looks like an "A" with lines) at the bottom of the compose window. Once formatting is enabled, you can use the subscript menu or keyboard shortcut.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Command + Control + B not work in my application?

Not all Mac applications support this shortcut. Some older programs or web-based tools do not recognize it. Try the Format menu instead, or check the application's help documentation for its subscript method. You can also create a custom shortcut in System Settings.

Can I type subscripts on an iPhone or iPad?

The keyboard shortcut does not work on iOS or iPadOS. In Pages or Numbers on iPad, select the text and go to Format > Text > Baseline > Subscript. In Google Docs on iPad, use Format > Text > Subscript. On iPhone, the same menus exist but are accessed through the formatting toolbar.

How do I make superscript instead of subscript?

Use Command + Control + Shift + B for superscript on a Mac. This works in the same applications that support subscript. If the keyboard shortcut fails, use Format > Text > Baseline > Superscript in Pages, or Format > Character > Effects > Superscript in Word.

Does subscript work in Microsoft Excel on Mac?

Yes. Select the text or number in the cell, then use Command + Control + B or go to Format > Cells > Font tab > Effects > Subscript. Note that subscript formatting in Excel only works within a cell if you are editing the cell directly — it does not display in the formula bar.

Can I copy and paste subscript text between applications?

Yes, if both applications support rich text formatting. Copy the subscript text from one app and paste it into another. The formatting usually transfers. If it does not, paste as plain text first, then apply subscript formatting in the new application using the steps above.