Google Docs: How to Add Subscripts or Superscripts

Most of what we write is made up of numbers and letters, with a little bit of simple formatting thrown in to make it look like it means something. If you’re writing about math or science, on the other hand, you will need more than the bold, italic, and underline tools that most word processors have on their default toolbars. In this article we will discuss about the how to Add Subscripts or Superscripts in Google Docs.

Even though most people don’t use superscripts and subscripts outside of academic writing, most word processing programs have ways to format these characters. The toolbars of both Microsoft Word and LibreOffice Writer have buttons that are easy to use. If you use Google Docs, which you should do on one of our top-recommended Chromebooks, you’ll have to click more or learn a few keyboard shortcuts to do the same thing.

Why Use Subscripts and Superscripts in Google Docs?

• To show that there are endnotes or footnotes. You can use superscripts to show the number of a footnote or endnote in a document where you want to add one.
• To show mathematical equations or chemical formulas. In chemical equations and math equations, superscripts and subscripts are often used to show exponents or subscripts.
• To show what an abbreviation or acronym stands for. You can use superscripts to show abbreviations or acronyms, like “e.g.” or “etc.”
• To make things stand out. Superscripts and subscripts can be used to make text look smaller or bigger, among other effects.

Accessing the Subscript and Superscript Options in Google Docs

1. Using the menu bar:
   1. Select the text that you want to superscript or subscript.
   2. Click on the Format menu and select Text.
   3. In the Text menu, select Superscript or Subscript.
2. Using keyboard shortcuts:
   • Superscript: Ctrl+“ (apostrophe)
   • Subscript: Ctrl+- (minus sign)

How to Add Subscripts or Superscripts

1. Write the text you want to turn into a superscript or subscript in Google Docs.
2. Choose the part of the text that you want to change.
3. Click “Format” on the menu bar.
4. Choose “Text” from the drop-down menu, then either “Superscript” or “Subscript,” depending on what you want. The text should show up in the document in the right way.

using keyboard shortcuts

1. In Windows, press Ctrl+ to add a superscript. (The Ctrl and period keys). On a Mac, you press and. (The Command and Period keys).
2. Press Ctrl +, (Ctrl and the comma key) on Windows to add a subscript. On a Mac, you press the Command key and the comma key together.

using the Insert Menu

1. Place the cursor where you want to add that special text to your Google doc.
2. Now, click the Insert menu item, and a list of options will appear.
3. Pick the option that says “Special characters.”
   In the search field, type Superscript or Subscript.
4. Find the symbol you want to add to your Google doc and click on it.

Keyboard Shortcuts for Subscripts and Superscripts in Google Docs

Tips for Formatting Subscripts and Superscripts Effectively

• For footnotes and endnotes, you should use a superscript. Most of the time, superscripts are used in this way. You can use superscripts to show the number of a footnote or endnote in a document where you want to add one.

• For chemical formulas and math equations, use subscripts. In chemical equations and math equations, superscripts and subscripts are often used to show exponents or subscripts. For example, the chemical formula for water is H2O, where the 2 means there are two hydrogen atoms and the O means there is one oxygen atom.
• Abbreviations or acronyms should be written with a superscript. You can use superscripts to show abbreviations or acronyms, like “e.g.” or “etc.” You could write “e.g.,” which stands for “for example.”
• Use subscripts to keep track of small text that you don’t want to get lost. Text can be made smaller with subscripts, which can be helpful if you don’t want it to get lost in the rest of the text. You could, for example, write “H2O” instead of “water.”

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