The fastest way to add subscript in Word

To add subscript 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. To turn subscript off, select the text again and press Ctrl + = a second time.

This keyboard shortcut works in Word on Windows, Mac, and in the web version. If you prefer using the menu instead of a keyboard shortcut, you can find the subscript button in the Home tab under the Font group — it looks like an "x" with a small number below it.

Subscript is useful for chemical formulas (H₂O), mathematical notation, and footnote numbers. The text stays part of your normal paragraph and moves with it if you edit or reformat the document.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Ctrl + = to make selected text subscript; press it again to remove subscript formatting.
  • You can also use the Home tab, click the Font dialog launcher, and check the Subscript box under Effects.
  • Subscript text is smaller and positioned below the baseline of regular text.
  • The subscript formatting stays with the text if you move, copy, or edit it later.
  • Word's web version and desktop version both support subscript using the same keyboard shortcut.

Using the Format menu if the keyboard shortcut does not work

If the keyboard shortcut does not respond on your computer, the Format menu gives you another route. Click the Home tab at the top of the ribbon, then look for the small arrow icon in the bottom right corner of the Font group — this opens the Font dialog box.

In the Font dialog, click the Effects tab. You will see a checkbox labeled Subscript. Check that box and click OK. Your selected text becomes subscript. To remove it later, open the same dialog and uncheck the box.

This method takes longer than the keyboard shortcut but produces the exact same result. Some users find it easier to remember than the keyboard combination, especially if you format text this way only occasionally.

Selecting text before you apply subscript

Subscript only works on text you have already selected. Click at the start of the text you want to make subscript, then drag to the end of it, or double-click a single word to select it. The selected text will highlight in blue.

Be precise with your selection. If you select too much, extra characters become subscript. If you select too little, you miss part of what you meant to format. For example, in the chemical formula H₂O, select only the "2" — not the H or the O.

After you apply subscript, you can click elsewhere in the document to deselect the text and see the final result. If the subscript is not quite right, select it again and press Ctrl + = to toggle it back to normal text, then reselect and try again.

Subscript versus superscript — which one to use

Subscript makes text smaller and lowers it below the line. Superscript makes text smaller and raises it above the line. They are opposite directions. Subscript is for chemical formulas and some mathematical notation; superscript is for exponents, footnote markers, and trademark symbols.

In Word, superscript uses the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + = (Control, Shift, and equals sign together). The menu path is identical — Home tab, Font dialog, Effects tab — but you check Superscript instead of Subscript.

Do not confuse subscript with simply making text smaller. Subscript also moves the text down; making text smaller alone leaves it on the baseline. Word handles both the size and position change automatically when you use the subscript command.

Removing subscript formatting from existing text

To remove subscript, select the subscript text and press Ctrl + = again. The text returns to normal size and position on the baseline. This toggle works whether you applied subscript with the keyboard shortcut or the menu.

If you have multiple subscript sections scattered through your document and want to remove them all at once, use Find and Replace. Press Ctrl + H to open Find and Replace, click More Options, then click Format. Select Font, check Subscript, and leave the Replace field empty. This finds all subscript text and removes the formatting in one action.

Removing subscript does not delete the text itself — it only returns the text to normal formatting. The words, numbers, and characters stay in your document.

Subscript in tables and text boxes

Subscript works the same way inside Word tables and text boxes as it does in regular paragraphs. Select the text, press Ctrl + =, and it becomes subscript. The formatting behaves identically whether the text is in a table cell, a text box, or the main document body.

If you are working in a table and the subscript text looks cramped or overlaps with the cell border, you can increase the row height. Right-click the row, select Row Height, and enter a larger measurement. This gives the subscript text more room without changing the subscript formatting itself.

Text boxes work the same way — subscript text inside a text box stays subscript even if you move or resize the box. The formatting is attached to the text, not to the container.

Copying subscript text to other documents

When you copy text that includes subscript formatting and paste it into another Word document, the subscript formatting comes along. Select the subscript text, press Ctrl + C to copy, open the other document, click where you want to paste, and press Ctrl + V. The text appears as subscript in the new document.

If you paste into a different program — like Google Docs, email, or a web form — the subscript formatting may not transfer. Most programs outside of Word do not recognize Word's subscript code. In those cases, the text pastes as regular text. You would need to reapply subscript formatting in that program if it supports it.

To paste only the text without any formatting, use Paste Special instead. Press Ctrl + Shift + V, select Unformatted Text, and click OK. This removes subscript along with any other formatting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Ctrl + = not work on my keyboard?

On some keyboards, especially laptops, the equals sign requires Shift. Try pressing Ctrl + Shift + = instead. If that does not work, use the menu route: Home tab, Font dialog launcher (small arrow), Effects tab, check Subscript, click OK. You can also check whether Num Lock is on if you are using the numeric keypad.

Can I make subscript text even smaller?

Word's subscript command sets a fixed size relative to your regular text. You cannot make it smaller through the subscript feature itself. If you need smaller text, you can select the subscript text and manually reduce the font size using the font size dropdown in the Home tab, though this is rarely necessary for standard subscript use.

Does subscript work in Word Online?

Yes. Word Online supports subscript using the same Ctrl + = keyboard shortcut. You can also use the Home tab menu — click the subscript button (the "x" with a small number below it) in the Font group. The formatting works identically to the desktop version.

What is the difference between subscript and just reducing font size?

Subscript does two things: it makes text smaller and it lowers it below the baseline. Reducing font size alone only makes text smaller — it stays on the baseline. Subscript is designed specifically for chemical formulas and mathematical notation where position matters. Use subscript for those cases, not just font size reduction.

Can I undo subscript formatting if I applied it by mistake?

Yes. Press Ctrl + Z immediately after applying subscript, or select the subscript text and press Ctrl + = to toggle it off. If you have already done other work since applying subscript, select the text and press Ctrl + = to remove just the subscript formatting without undoing anything else.