This article explains how to format characters as superscript in Microsoft Word. Superscript lets you type characters that appear slightly above the current line of text. It is used when displaying exponents in mathematical expressions, footnote citations, and temperatures.

What to Know

  • Open the document and type your text as usual, with no special formatting. Select the text you want to appear as superscript.On a Mac or PC, go to the Home tab and select the Superscript button. Your selected characters appear in superscript format.If you’re using Word Online, select your text and go to More Font Options (three dots), and then select Superscript.

How to Superscript in Word

Formatting superscript text is faster than using the keyboard shortcut for a degree symbol.

  • Open the document in which you would like to add superscript text or create a new document.
  • Type in your text as you would normally, with no special formatting applied. For example, to depict a formula that begins with the letter x squared, type x2.
  • Select the text you want to appear as superscript, so it becomes highlighted. In this example, select the number 2.
  • On Windows and Mac, go to the Home tab and select the Superscript button, located in the Font section of the Word toolbar and represented by the letter x and a raised number 2.
  • You can use a keyboard shortcut instead of selecting the Superscript button. On Windows, press Ctrl+Shift++ (the Plus sign). On macOS, press Cmd+Shift++ (the Plus sign).
  • Your selected characters appear in superscript format, such as x2.

How to Superscript in Word Online

In Word Online, the process is slightly different and uses another menu in the header. Here’s how to do it.

Open the document in which you would like to add superscript text or create a new document.

Type in your text as you would normally, with no special formatting applied. For example, to depict a formula that begins with the letter x squared, type x2.

Select the text you want to appear as superscript, so it becomes highlighted. In this example, select the number 2.

On Windows and Mac, go to the Home tab and select the Superscript button, located in the Font section of the Word toolbar and represented by the letter x and a raised number 2.

You can use a keyboard shortcut instead of selecting the Superscript button. On Windows, press Ctrl+Shift++ (the Plus sign). On macOS, press Cmd+Shift++ (the Plus sign).

Your selected characters appear in superscript format, such as x2.

Repeat these steps at any time to reverse this formatting.

  • Type in your text as you would normally, with no special formatting applied. For example, to depict a formula that begins with the letter x squared, type x2.
  • Select the text you want to appear as superscript, so it becomes highlighted. In this example, select the number 2.
  • Select the More Font Options button, which looks like three dots.
  • Click Superscript.
  • The selected characters appear in superscript format, such as x2.

Select the More Font Options button, which looks like three dots.

Click Superscript.

The selected characters appear in superscript format, such as x2.

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