What subscript is and when you need it

Subscript is text that sits below the baseline of regular text, smaller and lower than the letters around it. You use it for chemical formulas (H₂O), mathematical notation (x₂), footnote numbers, and some scientific writing. The subscript character itself doesn't change — only its position and size.

Most word processors and text editors have a built-in subscript button or keyboard shortcut. The method depends on which program you're using, but the result looks the same across all of them.

Key Takeaways

  • In Microsoft Word, select the text you want as subscript, then press Ctrl+= (Windows) or Cmd+= (Mac), or use the Format menu.
  • In Google Docs, select the text, then go to Format > Text > Subscript, or use Ctrl+, (comma) on Windows or Cmd+, on Mac.
  • Most web browsers and email programs have subscript buttons in their text formatting toolbars, usually marked with an "x" with a small number below it.
  • If your program doesn't have a subscript feature, you can type the subscript character directly if your keyboard supports it, or copy and paste a pre-formatted subscript from another source.

Subscript in Microsoft Word

Open your Word document and type the text you want to format. Select only the character or characters that should appear as subscript — for H₂O, you would select just the "2". Then press Ctrl+= on Windows or Cmd+= on Mac. The selected text will immediately drop below the baseline and shrink.

If the keyboard shortcut doesn't work or you prefer using the menu, select the text and go to Home tab, then click the small arrow next to the font formatting options. Choose Font, then click the Effects tab. Check the box next to Subscript and click OK.

To remove subscript from text, select it again and press the same keyboard shortcut a second time, or uncheck the Subscript box in the Font menu.

Subscript in Google Docs

Type your text in Google Docs, then select the character or characters that need to be subscript. Go to the Format menu at the top, hover over Text, and click Subscript. The text will format immediately.

The keyboard shortcut is faster: select your text and press Ctrl+, (comma) on Windows or Cmd+, on Mac. Press the same keys again to remove subscript formatting.

Google Docs also lets you use the same subscript shortcut in Google Sheets and Google Slides, so the method works across all three programs.

Subscript in web browsers and email

Gmail, Outlook.com, and most web-based text editors have a formatting toolbar above the compose box. Look for a button that shows an "x" with a small number positioned below and to the right — that's the subscript button. Select your text and click it to apply subscript formatting.

If you don't see a subscript button, your email or web editor may not support it. In that case, you can type the subscript number or character separately and note in your message that it should be read as subscript, or copy a pre-formatted subscript from another source and paste it in.

Subscript in other programs

LibreOffice Writer uses the same keyboard shortcut as Word: Ctrl+= on Windows or Cmd+= on Mac. Select your text first, then press the shortcut.

Apple Pages has subscript in the Format menu: select your text, go to Format > Text, and click Subscript. You can also right-click the selected text and look for a subscript option in the context menu.

If your program doesn't have a subscript feature at all, you can sometimes type subscript numbers directly. On Windows, hold Alt and type the number code on the numeric keypad (for example, Alt+0178 for ²). On Mac, you may be able to find subscript characters in the Character Viewer by pressing Ctrl+Cmd+Space.

When subscript doesn't work the way you expect

Subscript formatting sometimes doesn't survive when you copy text from one program to another. If you paste text from Word into an email or a web form, the subscript may revert to regular text. Test your paste in the destination program before you send or submit.

Some programs, like plain text editors or certain online forms, don't support subscript at all. If subscript isn't available where you need it, you can use a workaround: type the base text, then add the subscript number or character in parentheses or brackets — for example, "H2O" or "H(2)O" — and note in your document that it represents subscript.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is subscript the same as superscript?

No. Subscript sits below the baseline (like H₂O), while superscript sits above it (like x²). They use the same keyboard shortcuts in most programs — subscript is usually Ctrl+= and superscript is usually Ctrl+Shift+=. Check your program's menu if you're unsure which is which.

Can I make subscript text larger or change its font?

Most programs apply subscript as a formatting style that automatically sizes the text smaller. You can usually select subscript text and change its font the same way you would regular text, but the size and position are controlled by the subscript formatting itself, not by you directly.

Why does my subscript look different in different programs?

Each program has its own rules for how far below the baseline subscript sits and how much smaller it becomes. This is normal and expected. As long as it's clearly subscript, the exact appearance doesn't matter for most purposes.

Can I use subscript in a text message or social media post?

Most text messages and social media platforms don't support subscript formatting. If you need to show subscript in these places, type it as regular text and add a note, or use Unicode subscript characters if your keyboard supports them — but these may not display correctly on all devices.