To make text superscript in Google Docs, select the text and press Ctrl + . (period) on Windows or ChromeOS, or Command + . on a Mac. You can also click Format > Text > Superscript. The text shrinks and moves above the line, like the 2 in E = mc². Press the same shortcut again to turn it off.
Below you’ll learn how to add superscript on your phone, type superscript characters with Special characters, and use subscript for formulas like H₂O.
How to add superscript on a computer
- Select the text you want to raise, like “2” or “st.”
- Click Format > Text > Superscript, or press Ctrl + . (Command + . on Mac).
To type in superscript as you go, press the shortcut, type, then press it again to return to normal text.
The same Text menu also lets you cross out words with strikethrough in Google Docs, which puts a line through the characters instead of raising them above the baseline.
Superscript and subscript shortcuts
| Format | Windows / ChromeOS | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Superscript | Ctrl + . | Command + . |
| Subscript | Ctrl + , | Command + , |
| Clear formatting | Ctrl + \ | Command + \ |
How to insert superscript characters
- Click Insert > Special characters.
- Choose Symbol and Superscript from the menus, or search for “superscript two.”
- Click the character to insert it.
Special characters like ² and ³ are real characters, so they keep their look when you copy text into other apps.
How to add superscript in the Google Docs app
- Open the document and tap the pencil icon to edit.
- Select the text.
- Tap the Format icon (the letter A with lines).
- On the Text tab, tap the superscript button (x²). You may need to scroll the formatting options.
Automatic superscript for ordinals
Google Docs may raise the letters in ordinals like 1st, 2nd, and 3rd as you type. If you don’t want that for a particular word, press Ctrl + Z (Command + Z on Mac) right after it changes.
Related: Add superscript in Word.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove superscript?
Select the text and press the superscript shortcut again, or use Format > Clear formatting.
Can I add a footnote instead?
Yes. Click Insert > Footnote or press Ctrl + Alt + F. Docs adds a superscript number and a note at the bottom of the page.
Does superscript work in Google Sheets?
Sheets doesn’t have a superscript format. Copy superscript characters from Docs’ Special characters or type Unicode characters like ².
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.