Subscript uses keyboard shortcuts, not a separate key

Subscript is a smaller character positioned below the baseline of regular text — like the "2" in H₂O or the "n" in aₙ. Your keyboard does not have a dedicated subscript key. Instead, you use a keyboard shortcut that tells your word processor or application to shrink and lower the next character or selected text.

The shortcut changes depending on what program you are using. Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Apple Pages, and web browsers each have their own command. Once you know which one applies to your work, the process takes one keystroke.

Key Takeaways

  • In Microsoft Word on Windows, press Ctrl and the equal sign (=) together to make text subscript; on Mac, press Cmd and the equal sign.
  • In Google Docs, highlight the text you want to make subscript, then go to Format > Text > Subscript, or use Ctrl+, (comma) on Windows or Cmd+, on Mac.
  • In Apple Pages, select the text and press Ctrl+Cmd+B, or use the Format menu.
  • HTML and web-based tools use the tag to mark subscript text in code.
  • If a shortcut does not work, check that you are using the correct application and operating system combination.

Microsoft Word subscript shortcut

Windows: Select the character or word you want to make subscript. Press Ctrl and = (equal sign) at the same time. The text shrinks and moves below the line. Press the same shortcut again to turn subscript off.

Mac: Select the text. Press Cmd and = (equal sign) together. The behavior is the same as Windows — one press turns it on, another turns it off.

You can also type first and then select the text you want to convert. This is useful if you are working through a document and want to fix subscript after the fact. The shortcut works the same way either direction.

Google Docs subscript shortcut

Windows: Highlight the text you want to make subscript. Press Ctrl and , (comma) together. Google Docs will format the selected text as subscript immediately.

Mac: Highlight the text. Press Cmd and , (comma) together. The result is the same as Windows.

If the keyboard shortcut does not work, you can use the menu instead. Highlight the text, then click Format > Text > Subscript. This method is slower but works if your keyboard is not registering the shortcut.

Apple Pages subscript shortcut

Select the text you want to make subscript. Press Ctrl+Cmd+B together. Pages will format the selection as subscript.

If that shortcut does not work on your version of Pages, open the Format menu at the top, then look for Text or Character options. The exact menu path varies by macOS version, but the subscript option is always in the Format menu somewhere. You can also right-click the selected text and look for formatting options in the context menu.

HTML and web code subscript

If you are writing HTML or editing a website, use the <sub> tag to mark subscript text. For example: H<sub>2</sub>O produces H₂O.

Close the tag with </sub> after the character or characters you want to lower. This method works in any HTML editor, content management system, or web form that accepts HTML code. Plain text fields and some social media platforms do not support HTML tags, so this approach will not work there.

What to do if the shortcut does not work

First, make sure you are holding down the modifier key (Ctrl on Windows, Cmd on Mac) and pressing the equal sign or comma at the exact same time. Pressing them one after the other will not trigger the shortcut. If you are still having trouble, try using the menu instead of the keyboard.

Some keyboards, especially laptop keyboards or non-English layouts, may not register the shortcut the same way. If you use a non-standard keyboard, check your keyboard settings or the application's preferences to see if the shortcut has been remapped. You can also look up the shortcut in the application's Help menu — most programs list all keyboard shortcuts there.

If you are working in a web form or online tool that is not Google Docs or a major word processor, subscript may not be available at all. In that case, you can type the number or letter normally and note that it should be subscript, or look for a different tool that supports formatting.

Superscript shortcut (the opposite of subscript)

Superscript is the opposite — text that sits above the baseline, like the "2" in x². The shortcuts are similar and easy to remember.

Microsoft Word: Windows uses Ctrl+Shift+=; Mac uses Cmd+Shift+=. Google Docs: Windows uses Ctrl+.; Mac uses Cmd+. (period instead of comma). Apple Pages: Use Ctrl+Cmd+P. Once you know the subscript shortcut for your program, the superscript shortcut usually swaps one key — often adding Shift or changing the second key from comma to period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use subscript in email or text messages?

Most email clients and text message apps do not support subscript formatting. If you need subscript in an email, compose it in Word or Google Docs first, then copy and paste it into your email. Some email services preserve formatting, others do not. For text messages and social media, subscript is usually not available — you will have to type the number or letter normally and explain in context that it should be subscript.

Does subscript work the same way in LibreOffice or other free word processors?

LibreOffice uses Ctrl+Shift+B on Windows and Cmd+Shift+B on Mac for subscript. Other free or open-source word processors may use different shortcuts. Check the Help menu or preferences in the program you are using to find the exact command. The concept is the same across all programs, but the keyboard combination varies.

What if I need to type many subscript numbers in a row?

Press the subscript shortcut once to turn it on, type all the subscript characters you need, then press the shortcut again to turn it off. This is faster than selecting each character individually. For example, in Word: press Ctrl+=, type "2O", then press Ctrl+= again to return to normal text.

Can I make subscript text a different size or color?

Yes. After you apply subscript formatting, you can select the subscript text and change its size, color, or font using the same formatting tools you would use for regular text. The subscript position stays in place while you adjust the appearance.

Does subscript work in spreadsheets like Excel or Google Sheets?

Excel and Google Sheets support subscript, but the process is different from word processors. In Excel, right-click the cell, choose Format Cells, go to the Font tab, and check the Subscript box. In Google Sheets, highlight the text within a cell, then use Format > Text > Subscript. Keyboard shortcuts may not work in spreadsheet cells the same way they do in documents.