How to Superscript or Subscript in Word (with Shortcuts)

Apply Superscript or Subscript in Microsoft Word (4 Ways)

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated March 21, 2026

Applies to: Microsoft^®Word^® 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024 and 365 (Windows)

You can apply superscript or subscript in Microsoft Word using keyboard shortcuts, buttons on the Ribbon or the Font dialog box. If you apply superscript, the selected letter, number or symbol will be raised slightly above the line of text and sized to a smaller size. If you apply subscript, the selection will be lowered slightly below the line of text and sized to a smaller size. It's common to use superscript or subscript for symbols such as trademark or copyright symbols, mathematical equations, chemical formulas, and footnote characters or numbers. Certain features in Word, such as footnotes, automatically create superscripted characters.

Use a keyboard shortcut to apply superscript or subscript
Use commands in the Ribbon to apply superscript or subscript
Use the Font dialog box to apply superscript or subscript
Remove superscript or subscript
Insert a symbol
Final thoughts

Recommended article: 3 Strikethrough Shortcuts in Microsoft Word

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Use a keyboard shortcut to apply superscript or subscript

To apply superscript or subscript using a keyboard shortcut:

Select the text character, number or symbol to which you want to apply superscript or subscript.
To apply superscript, press Ctrl + Shift + equal sign (=). To apply subscript, press Ctrl + equal sign (=).

Note: We're using the equal sign at the top of the keyboard.

Use commands in the Ribbon to apply superscript or subscript

In Word, there are buttons in the Ribbon for superscript and subscript.

To apply superscript or subscript using commands in the Ribbon:

Select the text character, number or symbol to which you want to apply superscript or subscript.
Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
Click Superscript or Subscript in the Font group (X buttons).

Below are the commands in the Font group in Word (note the X buttons):

Use the Font dialog box to apply superscript or subscript

Since superscript and subscript are character formats that can be applied to text or a symbol, the most common way to apply them is to use the Font dialog box. You can select or deselect check boxes to apply or remove superscript or subscript.

To apply superscript or subscript:

Select the text character, number or symbol to which you want to apply superscript or subscript.
Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
Click the dialog box launcher on the bottom right of the Font group (corner button). Alternatively, press Ctrl + D. A dialog box appears.
Select the Superscript or Subscript check box or press Alt + the underlined character.
Click OK or press Enter.

Below is the Font dialog box in Microsoft Word:

Remove superscript or subscript

To remove superscript or subscript by clearing formatting:

Select the text with the superscript or subscript formatting you want to remove.
Press Ctrl + Spacebar. This will remove character formatting.

To remove or turn off superscript or subscript using a superscript or subscript keyboard shortcut:

Select the text, number or symbol with superscript or subscript you want to remove.
To remove superscript, press Ctrl + Shift + equal sign (=). To remove subscript, press Ctrl + equal sign (=).

To remove superscript or subscript using commands in the Ribbon:

Select the text, number or symbol with superscript or subscript you want to remove.
Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
Click Superscript or Subscript in the Font group.

To remove or turn off superscript or subscript using the Font dialog box:

Select the text, number or symbol with superscript or subscript you want to remove.
Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
Click the dialog box launcher on the bottom right of the Font group (corner button). Alternatively, press Ctrl + D. A dialog box appears.
Select the Superscript or Subscript check box to deselect it.
Click OK or press Enter.

Insert a symbol

If you insert specific symbols in Word, they are automatically superscripted. These include the registered trademark or trademark symbols.

To insert a symbol:

Click where you want to insert the symbol.
Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
In the Symbols group, click Symbol. A drop-down menu appears.
Click More Symbols. A dialog box appears. In Word, there are two tabs at the top of the dialog box.
Click the Special Characters tab.
Click the special character you would like to insert such as registered trademark.
Click Insert.
Click Close.

The symbol will be inserted into the document.

The Insert Symbol dialog box appears as follows (with the Special Characters tab selected):

Final thoughts

Superscript and subscript can be used with many types of characters including those in mathematical equations.

This article was first published on September 9, 2020 and has been updated for clarity and content.

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How to Superscript or Subscript in Word (with Shortcuts)

Apply Superscript or Subscript in Microsoft Word (4 Ways)

Contents

Use a keyboard shortcut to apply superscript or subscript

Use commands in the Ribbon to apply superscript or subscript