The quickest way to subscript in Word

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

If the keyboard shortcut does not work, you can also use the Format menu: select your text, go to Format > Text > Subscript, or right-click and choose Font, then tick the Subscript box under Effects. Both methods produce identical results — subscript is subscript regardless of how you reach it.

Subscript is useful for chemical formulas (H₂O), mathematical notation, and footnote numbers. Word keeps the subscripted text in the same font and size as the surrounding text, just positioned lower. Once you subscript text and move your cursor, any new text you type will return to normal formatting — subscript does not stay active the way bold does.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Ctrl+= (Windows) or Cmd+= (Mac) to subscript selected text; press again to remove it.
  • You can also access subscript through Format > Text > Subscript or by right-clicking, choosing Font, and ticking the Subscript box under Effects.
  • Subscript text is smaller and positioned below the baseline, commonly used in chemistry, mathematics, and scientific notation.
  • The same keyboard shortcut works in most Microsoft Office programs, including Excel and PowerPoint.
  • After you subscript text and click elsewhere, new text you type will not be subscripted unless you turn the formatting on again.

Using the Format menu instead of the keyboard shortcut

If you prefer not to use keyboard shortcuts, the Format menu gives you the same result. Select the text you want to subscript, then click Format in the menu bar.

From the dropdown, choose Text, then Subscript. Word will immediately subscript your selection. To undo subscript this way, select the text again and go back to Format > Text > Subscript to toggle it off. This method works identically on Windows and Mac versions of Word, so it is useful if you switch between devices or prefer clicking to keyboard shortcuts.

The Format menu route is also helpful if you are working on a keyboard where the equals sign is difficult to reach or requires multiple key combinations. It takes one extra click but eliminates the need to remember which modifier keys to press.

Accessing subscript through the Font dialog box

Another route is the Font dialog box, which shows you all text formatting options in one place. Select your text, then right-click and choose Font from the context menu.

In the dialog box that opens, click the Effects tab. You will see a checkbox for Subscript. Tick it, then click OK. The text will subscript immediately. This method is slower than the keyboard shortcut but useful if you are already in the Font dialog adjusting other properties like size, color, or font style, since you can subscript at the same time without closing and reopening the dialog.

What happens to text after you subscript

Once you subscript text and move your cursor away, any new text you type will return to normal formatting — it will not be subscripted. This is different from some formatting like bold or italic, which stay active until you turn them off.

If you need to subscript multiple separate words or phrases, subscript each one individually. Select the first piece, subscript it, then select the next piece and subscript that too. If you want to type several subscripted characters in a row without interruption, subscript the first character, then keep typing — the subscript will stay active as long as you do not click elsewhere or press the subscript shortcut again to toggle it off.

Subscript in tables, headers, and footers

Subscript works the same way inside Word tables, headers, and footers as it does in the main document body. Select the text you want to subscript and use Ctrl+= (or Cmd+= on Mac), or go through the Format menu. The subscript formatting stays in place when you copy the table to another document or email.

This is useful if you are building a table with chemical formulas, mathematical expressions, or scientific data. Headers and footers often contain subscripted text in academic or technical documents, and Word handles the formatting consistently across all these locations.

Subscript versus superscript

Superscript is the opposite of subscript — text that is smaller and raised above the baseline instead of lowered below it. Use superscript for exponents (x²), trademark symbols (™), or footnote markers.

The keyboard shortcut for superscript is Ctrl+Shift+= on Windows or Cmd+Shift+= on Mac. You can also reach it through Format > Text > Superscript. Both subscript and superscript use the same menu path; Word just labels them separately. In the Font dialog, they appear as separate checkboxes on the Effects tab, and you can only apply one at a time to any given text.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my subscript keyboard shortcut not working?

On some keyboards, especially laptops, the equals sign requires Shift. Try Ctrl+Shift+= instead. If that does not work, use the Format menu route instead. Some keyboard layouts or language settings can interfere with the shortcut, so the menu method is a reliable backup.

Can I change the size of subscript text?

Word automatically sizes subscript text smaller than the surrounding text. You cannot manually adjust the subscript size without removing the subscript formatting first, changing the size, then reapplying subscript. Most users find the automatic sizing appropriate for chemical formulas and mathematical notation.

Does subscript work in Word Online?

Yes. In Word Online, select your text, then click the dropdown arrow next to the font size box in the toolbar. You will see subscript and superscript options there. The keyboard shortcut does not work in the browser version, so the menu is your only option.

What if I subscript text and then change the font?

The subscript formatting stays in place when you change the font. The text will be subscripted in the new font just as it was in the old one, maintaining the same relative size and position below the baseline.

Can I subscript numbers in a numbered list?

Yes, but you have to do it manually. Click inside the list item, select the number or text you want to subscript, then apply subscript formatting. Word will not automatically subscript list numbers or bullets.