If you are writing a scientific paper in MS Word, you are likely to use notations—words or numbers either raised or lowered above the normal writing line, and somewhat smaller in size than the regular text in the document.
You may use superscripts to denote very large numbers in the Scientific Notation, as this makes the number appear more compact. For example, it is possible to write 1,000,000 as 1×106, where 6 is the superscript.
Chemical formulas use subscripts to denote the structures of substances. For example, the chemical formula of water is H2O, where 2 is the subscript. Scientists also use subscripts to cite references like this: World War[3].
MS Word allows you to enter characters (text and numbers) in superscript and subscript. There are two ways to do this, and we will explain both:
- Change typed characters to superscript or subscript
- Type in characters in superscript or subscript
Lets begin.
Superscript
Method #1: Change Existing Characters to Superscript
Step #1: Open a Word document.
Open a Word document. Click on the Home tab on the top menu bar. In regular letters, type a sentence containing the characters you want to change to superscript.
Step #2: Change Selected Character to Superscript.
Select the character you want to change to superscript. Click on the Superscript icon in the ribbon. Word will change the character you had selected to a smaller size and position it above the regular text line.
Step #3: Repeat for other Text
Repeat Step #2 for other characters you want to change. Finally, your document may look like:
Method #2: Type in Characters in the Superscript Mode
Step #1: Open a Word document.
Open a Word document. Click on the Home tab on the top menu bar.
Step #2: Start typing your Sentence
Start typing the sentence which will contain the superscript, but stop before typing the first character that you want Word to display as a superscript.
Step #3: Switch to Superscript Mode
Click on the Superscript icon in the ribbon to start the superscript mode, and continue typing until you have entered all the characters you want in superscript. Word will display all the characters in a smaller font and place them raised above the normal text line. Once you are satisfied, click again on the Superscript icon to exit the superscript mode. From now on, whatever you type, Word will display in regular size and in line.
Step #4: Repeat for other Text
Repeat Step #2 and Step #3 at any other place in the sentence where you want superscripted text to appear. Your final document may look like:
Subscript
Method #1: Change existing Characters to Subscript
Step #1: Open a Word document.
Open a Word document. Click on the Home tab on the top menu bar. In regular letters, type a sentence containing the characters you want to change to subscript.
Step #2: Change Selected Character to Subscript
Select the character you want to change to subscript. Click on the Subscript icon in the ribbon. Word will change the character you had selected to a smaller size and position it below the regular text line.
Step #3: Repeat for other Text
Repeat Step #2 for other characters you want to change. Finally, your document may look like:
Method #2: Type in Characters in the Subscript Mode
Step #1: Open a Word document.
Open a Word document. Click on the Home tab on the top menu bar.
Step #2: Start Typing your Sentence
Start typing the sentence which will contain the subscript, but stop before typing the first character that you want Word to display as a subscript.
Step #3: Change to Subscript Mode
Click on the Subscript icon in the ribbon to start the subscript mode, and continue typing until you have entered all the characters you want in subscript. Word will display all the characters in a smaller font and place them below the normal text line. Once you are satisfied, click again on the Subscript icon to exit the subscript mode. From now on, whatever you type, Word will display in regular size and in line.
Step #4: Repeat for other Text
Repeat Step #2 and Step #3 at any other place in the sentence where you want subscripted characters to appear. Your final document may look like:
Conclusion
Superscripts and subscripts are very useful for people writing scientific papers. Microsoft Word allows easy methods for doing superscripts and subscripts. We have shown two methods each for implementing both processes, and you may use the one most suitable to your liking.