How to type superscript and subscript using keyboard shortcuts

Superscript raises text above the line (like the 2 in E=mc²). Subscript lowers text below the line (like the 2 in H₂O). Both have keyboard shortcuts that work differently depending on which program you are using.

In Microsoft Word on Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + Plus for superscript and Ctrl + Equal for subscript. On Mac, use Command + Shift + Plus for superscript and Command + Equal for subscript. In Google Docs, the shortcuts are Ctrl + Shift + X for superscript (Windows) or Command + Shift + X (Mac), and Ctrl + Shift + B for subscript (Windows) or Command + Shift + B (Mac). In Excel, there is no direct keyboard shortcut — you must use the Format menu or right-click to access superscript and subscript options.

To use any of these shortcuts, first select the text you want to format, then press the shortcut key. The formatting applies immediately. To return to normal text, select the superscript or subscript text and press the same shortcut again to toggle it off.

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft Word uses Ctrl + Shift + Plus (Windows) or Command + Shift + Plus (Mac) for superscript, and Ctrl + Equal (Windows) or Command + Equal (Mac) for subscript.
  • Google Docs uses Ctrl + Shift + X (Windows) or Command + Shift + X (Mac) for superscript, and Ctrl + Shift + B (Windows) or Command + Shift + B (Mac) for subscript.
  • Excel does not have keyboard shortcuts for superscript and subscript; you must use the Format Cells dialog or right-click menu instead.
  • You must select the text first before pressing the shortcut, and pressing the same shortcut again removes the formatting.

Superscript shortcuts by program

In Microsoft Word, select the text and press Ctrl + Shift + Plus on Windows. The Plus key is the one on the numeric keypad or the one above the letter P. On Mac, press Command + Shift + Plus instead. This works in all versions of Word from 2010 onward.

In Google Docs, select the text and press Ctrl + Shift + X on Windows or Command + Shift + X on Mac. This shortcut works in the web version and in Google Docs offline mode. If the shortcut does not work, check that your browser is not intercepting the key combination — some browser extensions or system settings can override it.

In LibreOffice Writer, select the text and press Ctrl + Shift + P on Windows or Command + Shift + P on Mac. LibreOffice uses different shortcuts than Microsoft Office, so if you switch between programs, you may need to remember both sets.

Subscript shortcuts by program

In Microsoft Word, select the text and press Ctrl + Equal on Windows (the Equal key, not the Plus key). On Mac, press Command + Equal. This is one of the most commonly used subscript shortcuts because it mirrors the superscript shortcut — one uses Shift, the other does not.

In Google Docs, select the text and press Ctrl + Shift + B on Windows or Command + Shift + B on Mac. The B stands for subscript (below). Like the superscript shortcut in Google Docs, this works in both the web version and offline mode.

In LibreOffice Writer, select the text and press Ctrl + Shift + B on Windows or Command + Shift + B on Mac. LibreOffice uses the same subscript shortcut as Google Docs, which can make it easier to remember if you use both programs.

What to do when the shortcut does not work

If the keyboard shortcut does not respond, first check that you have selected the text. Many users press the shortcut without selecting anything and assume it is broken. Click and drag to highlight the text, then try the shortcut again.

In Google Docs, if the shortcut still does not work, open the Format menu, click Text, and then click Superscript or Subscript. This menu route works when the keyboard shortcut is blocked by your browser or system settings. You can also check whether your keyboard layout is set correctly — some non-English keyboard layouts map different keys to the same physical buttons.

In Microsoft Word, if the shortcut does not work, go to the Home tab, click the small arrow next to Font, and open the Font dialog. Click the Effects tab and check the Superscript or Subscript box. This method is slower but always works. You can also customize the keyboard shortcuts in Word by going to File > Options > Customize Ribbon > Keyboard Shortcuts if you want to change them to something easier to remember.

In Excel, right-click the cell and select Format Cells. Click the Font tab, then check Superscript or Subscript. Excel does not offer a keyboard shortcut for this formatting, so the menu is your only option.

Toggling superscript and subscript off

Once you have applied superscript or subscript formatting, you can remove it by selecting the formatted text again and pressing the same shortcut key. For example, if you pressed Ctrl + Shift + Plus to make text superscript in Word, pressing Ctrl + Shift + Plus again will turn off the superscript formatting and return the text to normal size and position.

This toggle behavior works in Word, Google Docs, and LibreOffice. It means you do not need to remember a separate "remove formatting" command — the same shortcut both applies and removes the formatting. If you want to remove all formatting from a selection at once, you can select the text and press Ctrl + M in Word or Ctrl + \ in Google Docs to clear direct formatting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the superscript shortcut not work on my Mac?

On Mac, make sure you are pressing Command, not Control. The Command key has the ⌘ symbol. Also check that you are using the correct Plus key — on some Mac keyboards, the Plus key is above the Equal key and requires Shift to type. If you are still having trouble, try going through the Format menu instead of using the keyboard shortcut.

Can I use these shortcuts in PowerPoint or other Microsoft programs?

Yes. The same shortcuts work in PowerPoint, Outlook, and other Microsoft Office programs. Ctrl + Shift + Plus for superscript and Ctrl + Equal for subscript apply across all Office applications on Windows, and Command + Shift + Plus and Command + Equal work on Mac.

Is there a way to make superscript or subscript the default for a cell in Excel?

Excel does not have a keyboard shortcut, but you can format a cell and then save it as part of a cell style. Right-click the cell, select Format Cells, apply superscript or subscript, then go to Home > Cell Styles > New Cell Style to save it. You can then apply that style to other cells quickly.

What if my keyboard does not have a numeric keypad?

On laptops and smaller keyboards, the Plus key is usually the same key as the Equal key with Shift held down. Try Ctrl + Shift + Equal for superscript in Word instead of Ctrl + Shift + Plus. If that does not work, use the Format menu to apply superscript formatting instead.