Elevate Your Documents with Superscript and Subscript Formatting

You might occasionally need to insert superscripts and subscripts in Microsoft Word, especially if you create academic documents.

A superscript — which is slightly raised above the main line of text — is commonly used to indicate footnotes as well as the trademark symbol. Subscripts are less common, but like superscripts, can be used in science and math and are just as easy to use.

Adding superscript or subscript text is a great way to spice up your Word documents. These formatting techniques make certain characters appear slightly above or below the normal text line. I’ll explain what superscript and subscript are, when to use them, and easy ways to implement this formatting in Word.

What Are Superscript and Subscript?

First, let’s define these terms:

Superscript Smaller text set slightly above the regular text line. For example you might use superscript for footnote numbers or trademark symbols like ®.
Subscript Smaller text set slightly below the regular text line Common uses include chemical formulas or math equations

Superscript and subscript make selected characters stand out from body text without being too distracting. And they often carry special meaning, like denoting a footnote source or chemical compound.

When Should You Use Superscript or Subscript Formatting?

Here are some common use cases where superscript or subscript text adds value:

Footnote numbers or symbols
Mathematical or chemical formulas
Exponents and bases (53)
Trademark, copyright, and registered symbols (TM, ©, ®)
Date ordinals like 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Citation numbers or keys
Annotations or references

Basically, any time you want to emphasize certain characters in an elevated or lowered position, superscript and subscript do the trick!

3 Easy Ways to Use Superscript and Subscript in Word

Word makes it simple to add superscript or subscript formatting with just a click. Here are the top 3 methods:

1. Superscript and Subscript Buttons

This is the fastest way to apply or remove superscript/subscript formatting:

Select the text you want to format
On the Home tab, click the Superscript or Subscript button in the Font group
The selected text shifts position
Click the button again to remove the formatting

2. Keyboard Shortcuts

To use keyboard shortcuts:

Select the text
Press Ctrl + Shift + = for superscript
Press Ctrl + = for subscript
Reapply the shortcut to undo

3. Font Dialog Box

For more control:

Select the text
On the Home tab, click the dialog box launcher in the Font group
Check Superscript or Subscript in the Effects section
Adjust the offset percentage if needed

Once you get the hang of these options, it’s easy to superscript or subscript anything!

Formatting Tips for Superscript and Subscript Text

Here are some formatting tips to make your superscripts and subscripts look great:

Use a smaller font size like 9 or 10 pt for legibility
Reduce the offset percentage to avoid clashing with body text
Make sure superscript/subscript text is still sufficiently darkened
Add space above and below for cleaner separation
Use consistent styling for similar elements (e.g. all footnote numbers)
Avoid applying caps, bold, or other emphasis which compete with body text

With a bit of finesse, your superscripts and subscripts will be both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Examples of Superscript and Subscript Formatting

Let’s look at some examples that showcase the power of superscript and subscript text:

Superscripts

Superscripts elevate select characters like so:

The patient was given acetaminophenmg every 4 hours.
Please review the product safety guidelines in section 12b beforehand.
Be sure to include the registration symbol® for trademarked company names.

Subscripts

Subscripts lower select characters such as:

The chemical formula for water is H2O.
Einstein’s famous equation was E=mc2.
Today’s date is February 10th, 2023.

As you can see, superscript and subscript allow you to add dimensional detail that enhances meaning.

Creative Uses of Superscript and Subscript Formatting

Beyond traditional applications, get creative with superscripts and subscripts:

Tell a story – Use superscripts for plot whisper asides or internally spoken thoughts.
Add context – Subscript important background details that supplement the main text.
Insert commentary – Superscript ironic counterpoints or humorous contradictions.
Elevate key terms – Superscript your brand name or product features you want to highlight.

With clever usage, superscript and subscript can add voice, perspective and literary flair.

Tips for Using Superscript/Subscript Symbols

When inserting superscript/subscript symbols like © or 1st, here are some pro tips:

Use the Symbol dialog box to browse available options
Select (normal text) first to inherit the surrounding font
Trademark, copyright, etc. symbols will automatically superscript
Date ordinals like 1st and 2nd are best formatted manually

This ensures subscript/superscript symbols match the document font and style.

Troubleshooting Common Superscript/Subscript Issues

Here are some common superscript and subscript problems and how to fix them:

Text overlaps body text: Increase font size separation, reduce offset percentage, or add spacing.

Too large or small: Adjust font size and offset percentage until properly scaled.

Poor legibility: Use darker, crisper font (not light or italicized).

Positioned too high/low: Decrease/increase offset percentage for proper baseline alignment.

Uneven styling: Format similar elements consistently for clean uniformity.

With some minor adjustments, you can resolve most superscript and subscript problems.

Unleash the Power of Superscript and Subscript

Hopefully you now have a solid grasp of how to add superscript and subscript formatting in Word. Use these techniques to punctuate important details, clarify relationships, and add visual flair. Superscript and subscript bring out the dimensional hidden stories within your text. Go elevate your next document!

how to use superscript and subscript in word

Using the Symbol box

Use this method when you want to insert a symbol as a superscript or subscript (such as the copyright symbol, for example).

1. Place the cursor where you want the superscript or subscript symbol to appear in your document.

2. At the top of the screen, click the ribbons “Insert” tab.

3. In the ribbon, click “Symbol.” In the drop-down, choose “More Symbols…”

4. In the “Font” drop-down, choose “(normal font).”

5. In the “Subset” drop-down on the right, choose “Superscripts and Subscripts.”

6. Now scroll through the character list and find the symbol you want to insert. When you find the symbol, click it and click “Insert.”

Using the superscript and subscript buttons

1. Select the text you want to format as either a superscript or subscript.

2. In the ribbon, click the Home tab and then click either the Superscript or Subscript button, found in the lower row of the Font section.

1. Select the text you want to format as either a superscript or subscript.

2. To convert it to a superscript, press Ctrl + Shift + + (thats the Ctrl, Shift, and Plus sign keys). To make a subscript, press Ctrl + = (thats Ctrl and the equal sign). Advertisement

How to Insert Superscripts and Subscripts in Microsoft Word EASY [Tutorial]

How to make a superscript a subscript in word?

1. In a Word Online document, select the text you want to appear as a superscript or subscript. 2. At the top of the page, click the “Home” tab in the ribbon and then click the three dots to open the “More Font Options” dialog box.

How do I format text as superscript or subscript?

Tip: You can also format text as superscript or subscript by selecting options in the Font dialog box, as described in the next procedure. Select the text that you want to format as superscript or subscript.

How to use superscript & subscript buttons?

The superscript and subscript buttons can be used on any number, letter, or symbol in your document. 1. Select the Home tab in the ribbon. Figure 1. Home tab 2. Place your cursor where you want to insert the superscript or subscript. Or, select the existing text that you want to format as a superscript or subscript. 3.

How do I add a subscript in word?

In the Symbol box, select (normal text) from the Font drop-down list. It’s the first item on the list. In the Symbol box, in the Subset drop-down list, select Superscripts and Subscripts. In the Symbol box, select the symbol you want, press Insert, and then pick Close. Insert subscript or superscript text in your document.