The quickest way to subscript in Word

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

If you are using a Mac, the shortcut is Cmd + = instead. Both methods work in Word 2016, Word 2019, Word for Microsoft 365, and Word Online.

This keyboard shortcut is the fastest route if you format text regularly. It works whether you are typing new text or fixing text you have already written.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Ctrl + = (Windows) or Cmd + = (Mac) to subscript selected text, and press the same keys again to turn it off.
  • You can also subscript text through the Home tab by clicking the subscript button in the Font group, which looks like an X with a small number below it.
  • Subscript works on text you select before typing or on text you have already written — select first, then apply the format.
  • Word remembers your subscript setting, so if you turn subscript on and keep typing, new text will be subscripted until you turn it off.

Using the subscript button in the ribbon

If you prefer using the mouse instead of keyboard shortcuts, you can subscript through the ribbon menu. Open the Home tab at the top of Word, then look for the Font group in the middle section of the toolbar.

Click the subscript button — it looks like an X with a small number positioned below and to the right. The button sits next to the superscript button (which has the number above). After you click it, any text you select will be subscripted, or if you have text already selected, it will subscript immediately.

This method takes a few more clicks than the keyboard shortcut, but it is useful if you are not comfortable memorizing keyboard combinations or if you switch between subscript and superscript frequently and want to see which button does what.

Subscripting text you have already typed

If you have already written text and need to subscript part of it, select the text first, then apply subscript. Click and drag to highlight the characters or numbers you want to subscript — for example, if you typed H2O and need to subscript the 2, click just before the 2 and drag to just after it.

Once the text is highlighted in blue, press Ctrl + = (or Cmd + = on Mac) or click the subscript button. The selected text will drop below the baseline and shrink. If you selected too much or too little, click elsewhere to deselect, then select again and try once more.

Word does not undo subscript formatting if you make a mistake — you can always press Ctrl + Z to undo the last action and go back to normal text.

Turning subscript on before you type

You can also turn subscript on before you start typing, so new text appears subscripted automatically. Press Ctrl + = to activate subscript mode, then type the text you need. Everything you type will be subscripted until you press Ctrl + = again to turn it off.

This approach is helpful when you are working with chemical formulas, footnote numbers, or mathematical expressions where subscript text appears in the middle of a sentence. Type the normal text first, press Ctrl + =, type the subscript portion, then press Ctrl + = again to return to normal text.

The cursor position does not change when you toggle subscript on and off — Word simply changes the formatting of whatever you type next.

Subscript in Word Online

Word Online (the browser version of Word) also supports subscript, though the menu path is slightly different. Open the Home tab, locate the Font group, and click the subscript button — the same X with a small number below it. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + = in Word Online on Windows.

Mac users in Word Online should try Cmd + = as well, though browser compatibility sometimes affects keyboard shortcuts. If the shortcut does not work in your browser, use the button instead.

All the same rules apply: select text first if you want to subscript existing text, or turn subscript on before typing if you want new text to be subscripted automatically.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

The most common mistake is forgetting to select text before applying subscript. If you press Ctrl + = without selecting anything, Word simply turns subscript mode on, and your next keystroke will be subscripted. This is actually useful if you meant to do it, but confusing if you did not. Press Ctrl + = again to turn it off.

Another frequent issue is subscripting too much text by accident. If you drag to select and grab a space or punctuation mark you did not mean to include, the subscript will apply to that too. Select again more carefully and reapply subscript, or press Ctrl + Z to undo and start over.

If subscript text looks too small or hard to read in your document, you cannot change the subscript size directly — Word uses a fixed proportion. You can increase the overall font size of the paragraph, which will make the subscript larger proportionally, but subscript will always be smaller than the surrounding text.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between subscript and superscript?

Subscript text appears below the baseline (like the 2 in H2O), while superscript appears above the baseline (like the 2 in x²). Word treats them as separate formats. Superscript uses Ctrl + Shift + = on Windows or Cmd + Shift + = on Mac.

Can I subscript text in a table or text box?

Yes. Subscript works the same way inside tables, text boxes, headers, and footers. Select the text and press Ctrl + = or use the subscript button. The formatting applies wherever you are in the document.

Will subscript text stay subscripted if I copy and paste it?

Yes. When you copy subscripted text and paste it into another location in Word, the subscript formatting comes along. If you paste into a different program, the formatting may not transfer depending on what program you are pasting into.

How do I remove subscript formatting?

Select the subscripted text and press Ctrl + = again. The text will return to normal size and position. You can also select the text and click the subscript button to toggle it off.

Does subscript work in Word on my phone or tablet?

Word for mobile devices (iPhone, iPad, Android) has limited formatting options. You can usually find subscript in the formatting menu, but the exact location varies by device and Word version. Check your app's Help menu or formatting toolbar for the subscript button.