<p><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/609ed1d5f27b4c001944499b-2400/GettyImages-107429001.jpg" border="0" alt="teen student using laptop and studying with textbooks" data-mce-source="Robert Daly/Getty Images"></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p>You might occasionally need to insert superscripts and subscripts in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/microsoft-word" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Microsoft Word</a>, especially if you create academic documents.</p><p>A superscriptwhich is slightly raised above the main line of textis commonly used to indicate footnotes as well as the trademark symbol. Subscripts are less common, but like superscripts, can be used in science and math and are just as easy to use. </p><h2>How to insert superscript or subscript in Word for Windows</h2><p>No matter your reason for adding a superscript or subscript, there are several ways to do it. Use the method you find easiest to remember. </p><h3>Using the superscript and subscript buttons</h3><p><strong>1.</strong> Select the text you want to format as either a superscript or subscript.</p><p><strong>2.</strong> In the ribbon, click the Home tab and then click either the Superscript or Subscript button, found in the lower row of the Font section. </p><p><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/609ecb911b5cea0019c45245-1605/HowtoaddasuperscriptinWord-1.png" border="0" alt="Microsoft Word Home tab superscript and subscript buttons" data-mce-source="Dave Johnson/Insider" data-mce-caption="Click the &quotSuperscript&quot or &quotSubscript&quot button in the &quotHome&quot ribbon."></p><h3>Using keyboard shortcuts</h3><p><strong>1.</strong> Select the text you want to format as either a superscript or subscript.</p><p><strong>2.</strong> To convert it to a superscript, press Ctrl + Shift + + (that's the Ctrl, Shift, and Plus sign keys). To make a subscript, press Ctrl + = (that's Ctrl and the equal sign).</p><h3>Using the Font dialog box</h3><p><strong>1.</strong> Select the text you want to format as either a superscript or subscript.</p><p><strong>2.</strong> In the ribbon, click the "Home" tab and then open the Font dialog box by clicking the arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Font section. </p><p><strong>3.</strong> Click the box for either "Superscript" or "Subscript" and click "OK." </p><p><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/609ecc55f27b4c0019444982-1858/HowtoaddasuperscriptinWord-2.png" border="0" alt="Microsoft Word Font window" data-mce-source="Dave Johnson/Insider" data-mce-caption="The Font dialog box has checkboxes for &quotSuperscript&quot and &quotSubscript.&quot"></p><h3>Using the Symbol box</h3><p>Use this method when you want to insert a symbol as a superscript or subscript (such as the copyright symbol, for example). </p><p><strong>1.</strong> Place the cursor where you want the superscript or subscript symbol to appear in your document.</p><p><strong>2.</strong> At the top of the screen, click the ribbon's "Insert" tab.</p><p><strong>3.</strong> In the ribbon, click "Symbol." In the drop-down, choose "More Symbols"</p><p><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/609ecd2df27b4c001944498c-2277/HowtoaddasuperscriptinWord-3.png" border="0" alt="Microsoft Word ribbon" data-mce-source="Dave Johnson/Insider" data-mce-caption="Choose &quotMore Symbols&quot from the &quotSymbols&quot tool in the ribbon."></p><p><strong>4.</strong> In the "Font" drop-down, choose "(normal font)."</p><p><strong>5.</strong> In the "Subset" drop-down on the right, choose "Superscripts and Subscripts."</p><p><strong>6.</strong> Now scroll through the character list and find the symbol you want to insert. When you find the symbol, click it and click "Insert."</p><p><img src="https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/609ece5a1b5cea0019c45255-1841/HowtoaddasuperscriptinWord-4.png" border="0" alt="Microsoft Word Insert Symbol" data-mce-source="Dave Johnson/Insider" data-mce-caption="Insert the symbol you want into your document."></p><h2>How to insert superscript or subscript in Word for Mac</h2><p>There are several ways to insert superscripts and subscripts in Word on a Mac. </p><h3>Using the superscript and subscript buttons</h3><p><strong>1.</strong> Select the text you want to format as either a superscript or subscript.</p><p><strong>2.</strong> In the ribbon, click the "Home" tab and then click either the "Superscript" or "Subscript" button, found in the lower row of the Font section. </p><p><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/609ecf271b5cea0019c45257-1689/HowtoaddasuperscriptinWord-5.png" border="0" alt="Microsoft Word Home ribbon superscript and subscript buttons" data-mce-source="Dave Johnson/Insider" data-mce-caption="Click the &quotSuperscript&quot or &quotSubscript&quot button in the &quotHome&quot ribbon."></p><h3>Using keyboard shortcuts</h3><p><strong>1.</strong> Select the text you want to format as either a superscript or subscript.</p><p><strong>2.</strong> To convert it to a superscript, press Command + Shift + + (that's the Command and Shift keys along with the Plus sign key).</p><p><strong>3.</strong> To convert it to a subscript, press Command + Shift + - (that's the Command and Shift keys along with the Minus sign key). If you're using Word 2016, the shortcut is Command + Shift + =.</p><h3>Using the Symbol box</h3><p>Use this method when you want to insert a symbol that's pretty much always printed in superscript, such as a trademark symbol. </p><p><strong>1.</strong> Place the cursor where you want the superscript or subscript symbol to appear in your document.</p><p><strong>2.</strong> At the top of the screen, click the ribbon's "Insert" tab and then click "Symbol." </p><p><strong>3.</strong> Now scroll through the character list and find the symbol you want to insert. When you find the symbol, click it and click "Insert."</p><h2>How to insert superscript or subscript in Word Online</h2><p><strong>1.</strong> In a Word Online document, select the text you want to appear as a superscript or subscript. </p><p><strong>2.</strong> At the top of the page, click the "Home" tab in the ribbon and then click the three dots to open the "More Font Options" dialog box. </p><p><strong>3.</strong> Click either "Superscript" or "Subscript."</p><p><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/609ecfb8f27b4c0019444991-2112/HowtoaddasuperscriptinWord-6.png" border="0" alt="Microsoft Word Online ribbon" data-mce-source="Dave Johnson/Insider" data-mce-caption="You can choose superscript and subscript formatting in Word Online from the &quotMore Font Options&quot dialog box."></p><h2>How to undo a superscript or subscript in Word</h2><p>If you want to revert superscript or subscript text back to normal, just do the following on a PC or Mac:</p><p><strong>1.</strong> Select the text that's formatted as superscript or subscript. </p><p><strong>2.</strong> Press Ctrl + Spacebar. </p><bi-shortcode id="related-article-module-end-of-article" class="mceNonEditable"><a data-type="608b02bd0c26753404524f84" data-title="How to insert a footnote or endnote in Microsoft Word to add supplemental information to a document" data-url="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-insert-footnote-in-word" data-vertical="sai" data-image="https://i.insider.com/608b318d34af8d001859a090">How to insert a footnote or endnote in Microsoft Word to add supplemental information to a document</a><a data-type="60885ff47c964f47fe0aacf3" data-title="How to insert a checkbox in Word that readers can print out or check off on their computer" data-url="https://www.businessinsider.com/insert-checkbox-in-word" data-vertical="sai" data-image="https://i.insider.com/6089c04341182b0019e80635">How to insert a checkbox in Word that readers can print out or check off on their computer</a><a data-type="601c39429614fd4f1635cbc4" data-title="15 Microsoft Word tips and tricks that will help any user work more efficiently" data-url="https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-word-tips-and-tricks" data-vertical="sai" data-image="https://i.insider.com/5f7f65bb0f9900001939ee7e">15 Microsoft Word tips and tricks that will help any user work more efficiently</a><a data-type="608750a812e5e41c4340e6d1" data-title="How to remove a page break in Word and get rid of useless blank spaces" data-url="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-remove-a-page-break-in-word" data-vertical="sai" data-image="https://i.insider.com/undefined">How to remove a page break in Word and get rid of useless blank spaces</a></bi-shortcode><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/superscript-in-word#comments">Join the conversation about this story »</a></p>
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