When doing calculations or writing chemical formulas, you may need to insert a subscript in your Excel spreadsheet.
Don’t know how to do it? You don’t have to worry as there are several methods to do that. Here are 8 methods that you can use to insert a subscript in your Excel workbook.
8 Methods of inserting a subscript in Microsoft Excel:
- Use the Font tab in Format Cells
- Use keyboard shortcuts
- Use the Subscript option
- Use the Equation option
- Use the Ink Equation option
- Use third-party websites
- Use the Custom option in the Number tab
Let us begin by looking at how each of these methods works.
Method #1: Use the Font Tab in Format Cells
In this method, you can change a text or number to a subscript by checking the subscript checkbox.
Step #1: Open your Excel workbook
Open an existing workbook if you have one. Otherwise, create a new workbook by clicking on Blank workbook.
Step #2: Select the text
In your cell, select the number or text to be made subscript. In our example, the number 2 is supposed to be the subscript.
Step #3: Select Format Cells
Right-click on this selected part.
A new menu will open.
Select Format Cells… from the list of options.
Step #4: Subscript checkbox
The Format Cells dialog box will open.
Under the Effects category, check the Subscript checkbox.
Step #5: Click OK
Once you’re done, click on the OK button.
You can now see that 2 has become a subscript.
Method #2: Use Keyboard Shortcuts
This method is like the previous method, but you use keyboard shortcuts.
Step #1: Open your Excel workbook
Open an existing workbook if you have one. Otherwise, create a new workbook by clicking on Blank workbook.
Step #2: Select the text
In your cell, select the number or text to be made subscript. In our example, the number 2 is supposed to be the subscript.
Step #3: Press Ctrl + Shift + F
If you’re a Windows user, press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + F.
For Mac, press Cmd + Shift + F.
This will open the Format Cells dialog box.
Step #4: Press Alt + B
Now, press Alt + B.
This would automatically check the Subscript checkbox.
Step #5: Press Enter
Once you’re done, press Enter or click the OK button.
You can see that 2 has been changed to a subscript.
Method #3: Use the Subscript Option
The Subscript option is an icon that can be added to any ribbon for quick access. We will first explain how to change your ribbon to always show the Subscript icon. This will make it easier to access in the future. Do this if you often have to change a text or number to a subscript.
Step #1: Open your Excel workbook
Open an existing workbook if you have one. Otherwise, create a new workbook by clicking on Blank workbook.
Step #2: Select Customize the Ribbon
Right-click anywhere on the ribbon and select the Customize the Ribbon option from the three options that appear.
Step #3: Choose where to place the Subscript option
An Excel Options dialog box will open.
In the Main Tabs section, select a tab where you want the Subscript icon to appear.
For our example, the Insert tab is selected.
Step #4: Click on New group
Click on New group or an existing group.
This is where you will find the Subscript option.
For our example, we have chosen the New group option.
Step #5: Select the Subscript command
Now, choose the Subscript command on the left by clicking on it.
Step #6: Click the Add option
Once you select your command to be added, you can click the Add option.
Close the window.
Step #7: Select the text
Now, go to your Excel spreadsheet and select the part of the cell to be converted into a subscript.
In our example, it is the 2.
Step #8: Click on Subscript
Go to the tab where you decided to add Subscript to the menu options.
In our example, it is the Insert ribbon.
Click on the Subscript icon.
You can see that the 2 has been changed to a subscript.
Once you’ve customized the ribbon, you can directly use the Subscript option.
Method #4: Use the Equation Option
You can also use the Equation option to add a subscript. You first insert an equation box, select the type of equation and add data to it.
Step #1: Open your Excel workbook
Open an existing workbook if you have one. Otherwise, create a new workbook by clicking on Blank workbook.
Step #2: Insert an Equation box
Click on the Insert tab in the main menu bar.
In the Insert ribbon, at the extreme right, you will find the Equation icon.
Double-click the Equation icon.
This will insert an equation box in your document, and the ribbon will change.
Step #3: Select Script and click on Subscript
In this new Equation ribbon, click on the Script icon.
A drop-down menu will appear.
Select the second option, i.e., the Subscript option.
Step #3: Enter your data
You can see two boxes. Enter the data in the respective boxes.
Tip: Increase your font size to add data to the boxes, and then reduce the font size again once done.
You can now see your text or number with the subscript.
Method #5: Use the Ink Equation option
You can also draw your Equation and Excel will convert it to text and insert it into your sheet.
Step #1: Open your Excel workbook
Open an existing workbook if you have one. Otherwise, create a new workbook by clicking on Blank workbook.
Step #2: Select Ink Equation
Click on the Insert tab in the main menu bar.
Click on the Equation drop-down, the small down arrow next to the Equation icon, for the submenu to open.
Select Ink Equation at the bottom.
Step #3: Draw your equation
The Math Input Control dialog box will open.
Here, you can draw what you want and Excel will convert it for you.
You can see that Excel has identified 2 as a subscript and kept it as such.
Step #4: Review and click on Insert
You can review if it is correct in the text box above the drawing space.
Confirm if it is right and click on the Insert button.
You can now see that the text with the subscript has been inserted into your Excel sheet.
Method #6: Use Third-Party Websites
Third-party websites can be used to convert numbers or text to subscripts. Our pick for this method is Lingo Jam’s subscript generator.
Step #1: Open your Excel workbook
Open an existing workbook if you have one. Otherwise, create a new workbook by clicking on Blank workbook.
Step #2: Go to the third-party website
First, go to Lingo Jam’s subscript website.
In the website’s interface text boxes, enter your text or number in the first box. Use the second text box to convert your number or text to a subscript.
Step #3: Enter the text
You can now enter your number or text in the first box.
You will see the subscript generated in the second text box.
Step #4: Copy the subscript
Select the superscript by clicking and dragging over it with your mouse.
Right-click and select Copy from the menu that opens.
Or, you can also press Ctrl and C on your keyboard. If you’re a Mac user, use Cmd and C.
Step #5: Paste the subscript
Go to the Excel spreadsheet and paste the subscript.
You can right-click and select Paste from the menu that opens. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + V or Cmd + V if you’re a Mac user.
Method #7: Use the Custom Option in the Number Tab
If you want to insert the same subscript into many cells, you can use this method.
Step #1: Open your Excel workbook
Step #2: Select all the numbers
First, select all the numbers for which you want to add the subscript by clicking and dragging your mouse over them.
Step #3: Click on the Format Cells option
Right-click on the selected data for a new menu to open.
Click on Format Cells….
Step #4: Select Custom
In the new window that opens, under the Number tab, select the Custom option at the bottom.
Step #5: Enter the custom field
In the Type field, enter 0 and the subscript you desire.
For this, you can copy-paste it from a third-party website as done in the previous method.
You will see the subscript in the list of options now.
Click on that option, and click on the OK button.
You can now see that the subscript has been added to all the numbers.
Conclusion
You don’t have to struggle to write mathematical or chemical formulas in Excel. You can use any of the above methods to insert a subscript in your Excel sheet easily.