Small raised or lowered characters show up more often than you’d expect. You see them in dates like 1st or 24th, in temperatures such as 400°F, and in chemistry, where H₂O would look wrong without them. Maybe you’re writing an Arctic climate report. Maybe you’re typing a resignation letter because the circus finally called back. Either way, learning how to do subscript in Google Docs takes under a minute.
If you work on a Chromebook, Google Docs is likely your main writing tool anyway. It has been the default word processor for ChromeOS users for over a decade, so these steps will feel familiar. The same shortcuts also help when you build a checklist inside Google Docs or format any other document.
Steps for How to Do Subscript in Google Docs
Subscript pushes characters below the normal line of text. Here is what to do.
1. Open any file in Google Docs.
2. Select the words or numbers you want to shrink and lower.
3. Go to Format, then Text, then Subscript. A faster option is pressing Ctrl and the comma key together on Windows or a Chromebook, or Command plus comma on a Mac.
Your selection turns smaller and drops toward the base of the surrounding line. That is all it takes.
Turning Text Into Superscript Instead
Superscript works the opposite way. The characters shrink but float near the top of the line. The process is nearly identical.
1. Open your file in Google Docs.
2. Drag your cursor over the portion you want raised.
3. Head to Format, choose Text, and hit Superscript. The quick route is Ctrl plus the period key on Windows, or Command plus period on a Mac.
The chosen characters now sit high, which suits ordinal dates or degree notation. The table below sums up both shortcuts for quick reference.
| Style | Windows / Chromebook | Mac | Where the text sits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subscript | Ctrl + , | Command + , | Lowered, near the baseline |
| Superscript | Ctrl + . | Command + . | Raised, near the cap line |
How to Do Subscript in Google Docs Using Special Characters
Sometimes you need a symbol rather than plain letters or digits. Common cases include the degree mark (°) and the dagger (†) that writers place beside footnotes. Memorizing rare key combinations for each one is unrealistic, so Google Docs gives you a built-in symbol library.
1. Place your cursor exactly where the symbol should go.
2. Open the Insert menu and pick Special characters.
3. A popup appears. Type a name into the search field, or sketch the shape by hand in the drawing box, until the right symbol shows up.
4. Click it once to drop it into your document.
Each symbol arrives already raised or lowered based on its standard style. Want to flip one from raised to lowered, or the reverse? Apply the same Format menu steps from earlier, and the character moves. Here are a few common examples and where each style applies.
| Example | Formatting used |
|---|---|
| H₂O, CH₄ | Subscript |
| 1st, 24th | Superscript |
| 400°F, 0°C | Superscript symbol |
Extra Formatting Tips for Google Docs
These small touches make school assignments, science notes, and formal papers look correct rather than sloppy. Once your formatting is set, a grammar checker can polish the wording, and our guide on using Grammarly in Google Docs walks through the setup.
Google Docs also handles many file types beyond its own. If a teacher or client sends you a formatted document, check how to open RTF files on a Chromebook. And when a batch of documents arrives compressed, our walkthrough on unzipping files on a Chromebook will get you into them fast.
Still deciding which app fits your workflow? Our roundup of writing software for a Chromebook compares the main options, and knowing how to access files on a Chromebook keeps your downloads easy to find. Now that you know how to do subscript in Google Docs, plus superscript and special symbols, your documents can display every formula, date, and temperature the right way.
FAQs
What is the keyboard shortcut for subscript in Google Docs?
Highlight your text, then press Ctrl and comma together on Windows or a Chromebook, or Command and comma on a Mac. Press the same keys again to remove the formatting.
How do I do subscript in Google Docs on a Chromebook?
Select your text, open the Format menu, choose Text, then Subscript. The Ctrl plus comma shortcut works the same way on ChromeOS as it does on Windows.
What is the difference between subscript and superscript?
Subscript sits below the baseline, used for formulas like H₂O. Superscript sits above it, used for dates like 1st or degree marks. Both shrink the character size.
Can I add subscript symbols without a shortcut?
Yes. Open Insert, then Special characters, and search or draw the symbol you need. Google Docs adds it already raised or lowered based on its standard style.
How do I remove subscript formatting in Google Docs?
Select the formatted text and press the same shortcut again, Ctrl plus comma on Windows or Command plus comma on Mac. You can also reopen Format, Text, and click Subscript.
