How to Do Superscript: Shortcuts and Formatting for Every App

A superscript is a character, such as a number or letter, that is set slightly above the normal line of type and is usually smaller than the rest of the text. These characters appear above the baseline and are essential for mathematical expressions, chemical formulas, and footnotes.

Keep reading to discover how to use every superscript shortcut and method in the most popular applications.

In Microsoft Word, superscripts are commonly used for footnotes, the copyright symbol ©, or mathematical exponents. There are three primary ways to achieve this:

• The ribbon method: Select your text, go to the Home tab, and click the Superscript (x²) button in the Font group.
• The Font Dialog box: Highlight your text, press Ctrl + D (or click the Font Dialog launcher), and check the Superscript box under the “Effects” section.
• Keyboard shortcut: For a faster workflow, use the superscript shortcut: press Ctrl + Shift + Plus sign (+) simultaneously.

To undo the formatting, simply press Ctrl + Spacebar to clear character formatting.

Many users wonder how to do superscript in Google Docs when writing math formulas or chemical equations. Superscript Google Docs functionality is accessible through three main methods:

Using the menu system

To use superscript in Google Docs text via the menu:

1. Highlight the text you want to convert.
2. Select Format from the top menu.
3. Hover over Text and then select Superscript.

Using the Google Docs superscript shortcut

A much faster way to superscript Google Docs characters is to select the text and press Ctrl + . (period). The character will immediately update to the superscript position.

Using special characters

You can also insert specific symbols (like the trademark symbol) by going to Insert > Special Characters and searching for “superscript” in the search field. For more context on why these symbols are used, see our article on “Superscript Definition: A Guide to Chemistry, Symbols, and Fonts”.

Unlike Word, Excel is designed for data, so it doesn’t have a superscript button on the ribbon. Here is how to superscript in Excel:

• Format cells: Select the specific character in the formula bar, press Ctrl + 1, and check Superscript.

• Alt codes (Windows): For numbers 1, 2, or 3, you can use a superscript alt code. Hold Alt and type 0185 (for ¹), 0178 (for ²), or 0179 (for ³).

• Formula method: Use the CHAR function. For example, =A2&CHAR(178) will add a squared symbol to the value in cell A2.

Creating superscript in PowerPoint is important for citing sources or adding trademarks to presentation slides.

To apply formatting on a PC:

• Highlight the text and use the superscript shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Plus sign (+).
• Alternatively, use the Dialog Box launcher in the Font group on the Home tab and select the Superscript checkbox.

On a Mac, you can use the shortcut Control + Shift + Command + Plus sign (+). For those working with scientific slides, you may find our guide on “What Is a Subscript in Science?” helpful for balancing your equations.

If you are using Apple’s native apps like Pages, here is how to do superscript on Mac:

• Menu method: Go to Format > Font > Baseline > Superscript.
• Shortcut: Press Control + Command + Plus sign (+).
• Auto-Correction: In Pages, you can go to Settings > Auto-Correction and toggle “Superscript numerical suffixes” so that ordinary numbers like “1st” and “2nd” format automatically as you type.

Web developers and programmers often need to format text for the browser or documentation.

Subscript and superscript HTML

In HTML, the tags are straightforward. Use < sup > for how to do superscript and < sub > for subscript.

Example: E = mc< sup >2</ sup > renders as E = mc².

Markdown superscript

Not all parsers support standard Markdown superscript. However, many platforms allow you to use HTML tags directly within the Markdown file. Alternatively, you can use Unicode characters.

If you need to format text for a ReadMe file quickly, try our italic text generator to add emphasis to your documentation.

In scientific publishing, subscript and superscript LaTeX commands are the gold standard. LaTeX uses specific characters to denote position:

• Superscript: Use the caret symbol ^. Example: $x^2$.
• Subscript: Use the underscore symbol _. Example: $H_2O$.

If the superscript contains more than one character, wrap them in curly braces: $x^{2 \alpha}$. For a deeper dive into lowering characters, check out “Subscript Font Made Easy: A Complete Guide to Lowered Text”.

If you are working in a simple text editor like Notepad, you can use a superscript alt code by holding down the Alt key and typing the decimal code on your numeric keypad. This method works on Windows. Here are some common superscript alt codes:

We hope this guide helps you feel confident about how to do superscript in Word or use a superscript shortcut to polish your work. Whether you’re applying superscript Google Docs formatting for a report or superscript LaTeX for a lab result, you are now all equipped to do your best superscripts.