Subscript and superscript are an integral part of any scientific manuscript. Many of the equations in science, mathematics and engineering contain subscripts and superscript. Chemical reaction also requires subscript and superscripts.
- If you are using Microsoft Word Starter, be aware that not all the features listed for Word are supported in Word Starter. For more information about the features available in Word Starter, see Word Starter feature support. Get these keyboard shortcuts in a Word document at this link: Word 2016 for Windows keyboard shortcuts.
- A superscript or a subscript is a number, figure, symbol, or indicator of some sort, that is smaller than your normal text. A superscript is set slightly above it and a subscript is set slightly below it. You usually see these superscripts and subscripts used with copyright or some other symbol where you would like it to appear a bit above your.
On Microsoft Word documents, enter the hexadecimal code as in the above table, then press alt and x keys together. That will convert the code into a superscript or subscript. For example, 00B2 Alt + X will make superscript two like ². If keyboard shortcuts are not working, then there is an alternate way for you. The default keyboard shortcut for inserting a subscript in Word is the CTRL button and the equal sign. The English (US) keyboard is shown in the below picture. You should press two buttons, which are the Ctrl button and the = button. The default keyboard shortcut for superscript is almost the same. You have to press the CTRL button, the SHIFT.
Three different ways to write subscript and superscript in Ms Word.
- Graphical User Interface (GUI)
- Keyboard shortcut
- Math Auto-correct (Fastest way)
1) Using GUI
This method is simple and intuitive. If you are new to Microsoft Word, this is the shortcut you are probably using.
- Select text you want to make subscript/superscript
- Navigate to Home -> Font
- Click on button showing (for subscript) or (for superscript)
2) Keyboard Shortcut
This method is a just shortcut for the GUI method. Convert text in to subscript / superscript, just select text and press following keyboard shortcut.
- Keyboard shortcut for Subscript : Press Control and = together (<Ctrl>+<=> )
- Keyboard shortcut for Superscript: Press Control & Shift & = together (<Ctrl>+<Shift>+<=> )
3) Math AutoCorrect shortcut for Subscript and Superscript
If you are writing a lot of equations in Ms Word, then this is the one you should use. This shortcut is like latex and saves a lot of time. But one thing to note is that this method works only in equation editor of Word.
- Shortcut: Use _ for subscript and ^ for superscript
- Include text you want to put as subscript or superscript after shortcut. Subscript or super script text contains spaces then enclose them in bracket.
- Press space
- For getting subscript and superscript before text use zwsp before using above shortcut for subscript and superscript
In the above table, <sp> stands for space, pressing space bar is important and is required to tell Math Autocorrect feature of Word to correct the formatting
Conclusion
Microsoft Word Equation Subscript Shortcut
There are 3 ways viz. GUI, keyboard shortcut and Math Autocorrect to insert subscript and super script in Ms Word. Math Autocorrect method is like LaTeX but works only inside equation editor.