In Google Docs, Word, Excel and many other applications you can subscribe and superscribe numbers and letters with just a few clicks. With subscript, you put numbers or letters below the regular text line, with superscript you can put them above the text line. Sub- and Superscript is mainly used in science, for example chemistry or mathematics, but also to show citations.
How to superscript
Superscript is a type of text formatting used to put numbers or letters above the regular text line. With this kind of format you can indicate footnotes or endnotes in academic writing or include trademark or copyright symbols in your text. Subscript is also used for mathematical functions, chemical symbols and to indicate ordinal numbers.
Superscript in html
To add superscript text in html you will need to use the <sup> tag, which defines the superscript text in coding.
- <!DOCTYPE html>
- <html>
- <body>
- <p>text <sup>superscript text</sup></p>
- </body>
- </html>
Your text will then appear like this: textsuperscript text
Superscript in Google Docs
In Google Docs, there are two ways to change numbers or letters into superscript.
- Highlight the section you want to superscribe and press [CTRL] + [.] to superscribe the chosen text.
- Select the text you want to superscribe by highlighting it. In the top menu click on “Format”, then “Text” and then “Superscript”. Your selected text will be superscribed.
Superscript in Google Sheets
Using superscript in Google Sheets is a little more complicated and you need to use a workaround to do so. However, with our step-by-step explanation you should be able to superscribe in Google Sheets easily.
To use superscript in Google Sheets, you will need to use the CHAR()-function:
- Click into an empty cell that you don’t want to use for your text or create an extra sheet for entering the functions.
- Enter =CHAR() into the cell. Between the brackets you will need to enter a numerical code to access the number or letter you want to superscribe. You will find these codes in the table below:
| Numbers and Symbols | Numerical Code | Superscript Characters |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 8304 | ⁰ |
| 1 | 185 | ¹ |
| 2 | 178 | ² |
| 3 | 179 | ³ |
| 4 | 8308 | ⁴ |
| 5 | 8309 | ⁵ |
| 6 | 8310 | ⁶ |
| 7 | 8311 | ⁷ |
| 8 | 8312 | ⁸ |
| 9 | 8313 | ⁹ |
| + | 8314 | ⁺ |
| – | 8315 | ⁻ |
| = | 8316 | ⁼ |
| ( | 8317 | ⁽ |
| ) | 8318 | ⁾ |
| Lower case Alphabet | Numerical Code | Superscript Characters |
|---|---|---|
| a | 7491 | ᵃ |
| b | 7495 | ᵇ |
| c | 7580 | ᶜ |
| d | 7496 | ᵈ |
| e | 7497 | ᵉ |
| f | 7584 | ᶠ |
| g | 7501 | ᵍ |
| h | 688 | ʰ |
| i | 7588 | ᶤ |
| j | 690 | ʲ |
| k | 7503 | ᵏ |
| l | 737 | ˡ |
| m | 7504 | ᵐ |
| n | 8319 | ⁿ |
| o | 7506 | ᵒ |
| p | 7510 | ᵖ |
| r | 691 | ʳ |
| s | 738 | ˢ |
| t | 7511 | ᵗ |
| u | 7512 | ᵘ |
| v | 7515 | ᵛ |
| w | 695 | ʷ |
| x | 739 | ˣ |
| y | 696 | ʸ |
| z | 7611 | ᶻ |
- Example: To write the superscript number 2 you will enter =CHAR(178) into the empty cell
- After entering the correct CHAR-function with the numerical code you need, press enter and the superscript number or letter will appear in the cell.
- Now you need to copy that cell.
- Then Right-click on the cell you want to use the superscript text in.
- From the pop-up menu choose “Paste special” and then “Paste values only”.
- The superscript number or letter will now appear in the cell.
- You can now edit the cell by clicking on the cell and typing in the text editing bar below the main menu, for example you can now add text in front of your superscript number or letter.
Superscript in Google Slides
If you want to use superscript in a Google Slides presentation, there is an easy way to do so.
- Open a presentation in Google Slides
- Add a text field or click into an existing text field
- In the main menu, click on “Insert” and “Special Characters”
- The special characters dialogue will open. Choose “Superscript” in the drop-down menu on the right.
Superscript in Gmail
Unfortunately Gmail has no shortcut function or option to add superscript into an email, however, you can add superscript by using a workaround with other software.
- You can write your text, including the superscript numbers or letters, in another word processing software like Microsoft Word or Google Docs and then copy and paste it into your email in Gmail.
- Alternatively, you can use an online superscript generator and paste the text into your email.
How to use superscript in Word
Sometimes you may need numbers and letters above the text line. Here you can find a tutorial using Word 2019 as an example.
- In Word, highlight the numbers or letters you want to superscribe.
- The x² icon is located under “Home” in the “Font” area. By clicking on it, the selected characters are superscribed.
- Alternatively, you can click on the icon before you write the number to be superscribed. Word will then superscribe everything written afterwards until you click the icon again.
- The shortcut [CTRL] + [+] works the same way. This allows you to activate the option before you insert the numbers and letters you want to superscribe.
How to use superscript in Excel
In Excel, you can superscript individual characters within the cell as well as the contents of entire cells. However, this works a little differently than in Word.
- Select either the cell you want to superscribe or the individual characters.
- Right-click on the selected range and select the “Format cells” option.
- In the new window, place a checkmark at “Superscript” and confirm your entry with “OK”.
How to use superscript in PowerPoint
Using superscript in PowerPoint can be achieved in two ways:
- Press [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [+] for superscribing text in PowerPoint.
- You can also click on “Font” in the Home tab, then choose the Font Dialogue Box Launcher in the lower right corner. Then select “Superscript” in the “Font” tab under “Effects”.
Superscript in LaTeX
The software system LaTeX, which is used for document preparation for technical and scientific documentation, is also able to handle superscript text. In LaTeX simply enter ^{}. Please note that your specific text, number or letter has to be entered between the brackets.
Superscript on a Mac
The shortcut for using superscript numbers, letters or text on a Mac is [Ctrl]+[Shift]+[Cmd]+[+].
Superscript generator
To make superscribing easier, there are a lot of superscript generators online to help you copy and paste your superscribed text into your email or document. Here are some superscript generators:
How to subscript
Subscript is a type of text formatting used to put numbers or letters below the regular text line. Subscript is used very rarely and usually only for chemical symbols or compounds. However, subscript also has some uses in mathematics and other sciences.
Subscript in html
To add subscript text in html you will need to use the <sub> tag, which defines the subscript text in coding.
- <!DOCTYPE html>
- <html>
- <body>
- <p>text <sub>subscript text</sub></p>
- </body>
- </html>
Your text will then appear like this: textsubscript text
Subscript in Google Docs
In Google Docs, there are two ways to change numbers or letters into subscript.
- Highlight the section you want to subscribe and press [CTRL] + [,] to subscribe the chosen text.
- Select the text you want to subscribe by highlighting it. In the top menu click on “Format”, then “Text” and then “Subscript”. Your selected text will be subscribed.
Subscript in Google Sheets
Using subscript in Google Sheets is a little more complicated than in other software. However, with our step-by-step explanation and workaround you will use subscript in Google Sheets easily.
To use subscript in Google Sheets, you will need to use the CHAR()-function:
- Click into an empty cell that you don’t want to use for your text or create an extra sheet for entering the functions.
- Enter =CHAR() into the cell. Between the brackets you will need to enter a numerical code to access the number or letter you want to subscribe. You will find these codes in the table below:
| Numbers and Symbols | Numerical Code | Subscript Characters |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 8320 | ₀ |
| 1 | 8321 | ₁ |
| 2 | 8322 | ₂ |
| 3 | 8323 | ₃ |
| 4 | 8324 | ₄ |
| 5 | 8325 | ₅ |
| 6 | 8326 | ₆ |
| 7 | 8327 | ₇ |
| 8 | 8328 | ₈ |
| 9 | 8329 | ₉ |
| + | 8330 | ₊ |
| – | 8331 | ₋ |
| = | 8332 | ₌ |
| ( | 8333 | ₍ |
| ) | 8334 | ₎ |
| Lower case Alphabet | Numerical Code | Subscript Characters |
|---|---|---|
| a | 8336 | ₐ |
| e | 8337 | ₑ |
| o | 8338 | ₒ |
| x | 8339 | ₓ |
| i | 7522 | ᵢ |
| r | 7523 | ᵣ |
| u | 7524 | ᵤ |
| v | 7525 | ᵥ |
| y | 7527 | ᵧ |
- Example: To write the subscript letter a you will enter =CHAR(8336) into the empty cell
- After entering the correct CHAR-function with the numerical code you need, press enter and the subscript number or letter will appear in the cell.
- Now you need to copy that cell.
- Then Right-click on the cell you want to use the subscript text in.
- From the pop-up menu choose “Paste special” and then “Paste values only”.
- The subscript number or letter will now appear in the cell.
- You can now edit the cell by clicking on the cell and typing in the text editing bar below the main menu, for example you can now add text in front of your subscript number or letter.
Subscript in LaTeX
The software LaTeX, used for document preparation for technical and scientific documentation, can also display subscript text. In LaTeX, enter _{} to receive subscript text. Please note that your specific text, number or letter has to be entered between the brackets.
How to use subscript in Word
If you want to display numbers and letters below the text line you can subscribe them in a few easy steps.
- In Word, highlight the numbers or letters you want to subscribe.
- The X2 icon is located under “Home” in the “Font” area. By clicking on it, the selected characters are subscribed.
- Alternatively, you can click on the icon before you write the number or letter to be subscribed. Word will then subscribe everything written afterwards until you click the icon again.
- The shortcut [CTRL] + [#] works the same way. This allows you to activate the option before you insert the numbers and letters you want to subscribe.
How to use subscript in Excel
Using subscript is also possible in Excel, however it works a little differently than in Word:
- Select either the cell you want to subscribe or the individual characters.
- Right-click on the selected range and select the “Format cells” option.
- In the new window, place a checkmark at “Subscript” and confirm your entry with “OK”.
How to do subscript in PowerPoint
Using subscript in PowerPoint is easy and you have two possibilities of doing so:
- Press [Ctrl] + [=] for superscribing text in PowerPoint.
- You can also click on “Font” in the Home tab, then choose the Font Dialogue Box Launcher in the lower right corner. Then select “Subscript” in the “Font” tab under “Effects”.
How to do subscript on a Mac
The shortcut for using subscript numbers, letters or text on a Mac is [Ctrl]+[Cmd]+[-]
Subscript generator
To help you put numbers or text in subscript quickly, there are a number of subscript generators online:
