How to Superscript in Google Docs? (3-Minute Read)

If you want to insert a superscript in a Google Docs document, there are two major ways to do this: you can go to the "Format" menu, choose "Text", and then select "Superscript"; or you can use the "CTRL" (or Command, on Macs) + "." keyboard shortcut. In the mobile app, tap the "Format" button, go to the "Text" tab, and press the "Superscript" button.

When a large portion of your work involves you writing in Google Docs, you learn a lot of tricks that make your work a lot smoother. If there's a special kind of formatting or any special characters that you're trying to understand in Google Docs, I already know how to use them!

So, if you're looking for how to superscript in Google Docs, you're in the right place. Let's get right into what you need to know.

How Do You Use Superscript in Google Docs from the Format Menu?

If you want to put some text into the Superscript format in Google Docs, the most obvious way to do it is through the Format menu at the top of the screen.

Just follow these steps to enter superscripted text in a Google Docs document:

1. Open any Google Docs document.
2. Open the "Format" menu from the menu bar at the top of the screen.
3. Hover over the "Text" entry to expand it.
4. Click "Superscript".

Now, any text that you type in this Google Docs document will be superscripted.

How to Use Subscript in Google Docs?

If you want to use subscript in Google Docs, all you need to do is follow the steps above, but instead of choosing "Superscript", choose "Subscript"! That's it!

What is the Keyboard Shortcut for Superscript?

Fortunately, if you're looking to streamline your typing and get even faster, you'll be glad to know there's a keyboard shortcut to apply superscript. With this, you won't even need to take your hands off the keyboard.

To apply superscript in Windows:

1. Highlight the text that you want to apply superscript to.
2. Press "CTRL" and "." (period key).

Side note: some users have only been able to do this with the "." (period key) on the numerical pad but not the period key on the main keyboard.

If you're using a Mac computer,

1. Highlight the text that you want to apply superscript to.
2. Press "Command" and "." (period key).

If you use the same keyboard shortcut without highlighting text, the next words you write will automatically be superscripted.

Keyboard Shortcut for Subscript in Google Docs

To put in a subscript text when writing in Google Docs, just press "CTRL" + "," (comma key). On a Mac computer, press "Command" + ",".

How Do Use Superscript on the Google Docs Mobile App?

If you're trying to apply superscript in Google Docs on the mobile phone app, there's no obvious Format menu and you can't use a keyboard shortcut.

So, on your smartphone, how would you insert superscripts?

Simply follow these steps:

1. Open the Google Docs app.
2. Highlight the text that you want to apply superscript to.
3. Press the Format button at the top of the screen. It looks like an "A" with horizontal lines beside it.
4. Tap the "Text" tab.
5. Press the superscript icon, which looks like an "X" with a small 2 in the upper-right corner.

How Do You Apply Superscript for Mathematical Equations?

When required, it is important to apply superscript in a different way for mathematical equations in Google Docs.

Fortunately, it isn't hard to do this at all:

1. Open a Google Doc.
2. Open the "Insert" menu in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
3. Choose "Equation" from the drop-down menu.
4. Before you type in superscript-formatted text in your Google Doc, press "Shift" + "6".
5. Now, any text that you type will be superscripted. Just press "Enter" to go back to regular text formatting.

How Do You Insert Superscripted Special Characters?

Certain special characters, like the Copyright symbol and Trademark symbol, are actually superscripted.

So what do you do if you want to choose a special character in Google Docs, but you only want to see the ones that are in superscript?

There's a handy way to do that:

1. Open a document in Google Docs.
2. Open the "Insert" menu.
3. Choose "Special Characters".
4. Expand the drop-down menu on the right side.
5. Scroll down and choose "Superscript" from the options.
6. This will show you all the superscript symbols in Google Docs. Simply click on the one you want to use to automatically insert it. Press the close icon over the dialog box once you're done.

You can choose "Subscript" to similarly insert any subscript character.

Read more resources

Final Words

If you want to format text with superscripts in Google Docs, simply click "Format", "Text", and then "Superscript" from the top menu. You can also use the keyboard combo of "CTRL" + "." to input superscript characters on the fly.

In the Google Docs mobile app, highlight the characters that you want to superscript in your writing, and then click the "Format" icon at the top of the app. From the "Text" tab, tap the "Superscript" icon, and that's it.

Was this article able to show you all the different ways you can apply superscript in Google Docs? If so, take a look at our related articles to learn more.