How to Superscript & Subscript in PowerPoint [Easy Guide]
- Ink Narrates | The Presentation Design Agency
- May 12, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 29
Last week, while we were wrapping up a pharma pitch deck for our client Jacob, he paused mid-review and asked,
“Hey, how do I show chemical formulas neatly in PowerPoint? Like the 2 in H₂O?”
Our Creative Director replied,
“Use superscript and subscript formatting. It takes 5 seconds, but makes the slide 10x clearer.”
As a presentation design agency, we work on countless technical decks each year, from investor briefs in biotech to educational content in energy and materials. And there’s one visual problem that keeps showing up: messy formatting of scientific terms, mathematical notations, or even simple footnotes.
This blog is about fixing that, once and for all. We’re going to show you exactly how to use superscript/subscript in PowerPoint — the easy way — and also why it matters far more than most people think.
In case you didn't know, we specialize in only one thing: making presentations. We can help you by designing your slides and writing your content too.
The Shortcut Method for Superscript & Subscript in PowerPoint
As Steve Jobs famously said, "Simple can be harder than complex." And he was absolutely right. We often think that the most effective solutions are the simplest, but they can be surprisingly tricky to implement. Take superscript text in PowerPoint, for example. While it may seem like a minor detail, formatting text correctly can have a huge impact on the professionalism and clarity of your slides.
The fastest way to create superscript text in PowerPoint is by using a couple of handy keyboard shortcuts. It's quick, efficient, and saves you from navigating through menus and options.
Here's how to do it:
First, type out the number, letter, or word you want to superscript. Whether it's a mathematical formula, scientific notation, or even a trademark symbol, just type it out as you normally would.
Highlight that text by dragging your cursor over it to select it.
Then, hold down the Control key + Shift key + = key simultaneously.
And just like that, voila! Your highlighted text will instantly be transformed into superscript.
For example, if you type "X^2" and use the Control + Shift + = keys, the result will be "X²"—properly formatted with the "2" elevated and in superscript.
Now, the same logic applies if you need to subscript something, like "H₂O". Instead of going through the hassle of manually adjusting font sizes or navigating through complex menus, just type it out as "H20", highlight the "20", and use Control + = (note: no Shift key required this time). This will automatically convert the "20" into a subscript, giving you "H₂O" just like that.
These small formatting shortcuts may seem simple, but they can make your PowerPoint presentations much more polished and visually appealing, especially when dealing with formulas or technical terms.
Advanced Formatting for Superscripts & Subscripts in PowerPoint
Those PowerPoint keyboard shortcuts for superscript and subscript are great when you need a quick fix, but what if you’re dealing with a more complex formatting scenario? Maybe you need to format specific parts of your text differently, or you want more control over how your superscripts and subscripts look. That’s where PowerPoint’s Font Dialog comes into play.
Let’s walk through an example where we want to create a chemical formula like C₆H₆, where we subscript the "6"s and then superscript the "2" after the "C." This method gives you more precise control over each element of the text, and it’s perfect for scientific, mathematical, or technical content.
Here's how to do it:
Start by typing out your base text, for example, "C6H6"—simple and straightforward.
Next, highlight the "6" that appears after the "C." Then, head over to the Home tab on the ribbon, and click on the Font Dialog Launcher (the small arrow in the bottom right corner of the Font section). This opens up the Font window, where you can make more detailed adjustments.
In the Font window, look for the Effects section. Here, you’ll see options like Bold, Italic, and Underline. To subscript the "6", simply check the Subscript box.
After selecting Subscript, click OK to apply the change. Now, the "6" after "C" will be properly formatted as subscript.
Now, highlight the "6" that comes after the "H" and repeat step 3—this time, selecting Subscript again. Click OK, and voilà! The second "6" is now subscripted as well.
Finally, highlight the "2" that comes after the "C" and this time, instead of Subscript, click Superscript in the Font window. This will raise the "2" above the line, formatting it as a superscript. Hit OK, and there you go!
With just a few clicks, you’ve successfully formatted a chemical formula like C₆H₆, where the "6"s are subscripts, and the "2" is a superscript. But that's not all—using the Font Dialog gives you more control over the appearance of your superscript and subscript formatting.
The Font Dialog window also allows you to adjust the scaling, offsets, and other properties related to superscript and subscript text. This means you can fine-tune your text to look exactly how you want, whether you need it a little higher, a little smaller, or just spaced differently.
Superscript in PowerPoint Design Considerations
Knowing how to superscript and subscript in PowerPoint is just the beginning. The real challenge comes when it’s time to use these capabilities effectively in your presentations. It’s all about applying the right design principles to ensure your content remains clear, professional, and easy to follow. With that in mind, here are some practical tips to help you make the most of superscripts and subscripts:
1. Don’t Go Overboard
It’s tempting to use superscripts and subscripts everywhere you can, but the key is moderation. Only annotate what absolutely needs super/subscripting for clarity. Overusing these elements can make your slides look cluttered and distract from your core message. Keep it simple and only use superscripts and subscripts where they add real value—like in chemical formulas, mathematical expressions, or when emphasizing important terms.
2. Ensure Readability
Even though superscript and subscript text is smaller than regular text, it should still be legible from the back of the room. This means making sure the font size is large enough to be read from a distance. Nothing ruins a presentation more than having key data or formulas that are practically unreadable. Aim for a size that’s just small enough to maintain visual hierarchy but still large enough to be comfortable for your audience to read without squinting.
3. Emphasize Critical Super/Subscript Components
Some superscript and subscript elements carry more weight than others—think key numbers, units, or symbols. For these critical components, you might want to consider colorizing or bolding them to make them stand out. A well-placed splash of color or boldness can grab attention and highlight the most important details, helping your audience easily pick out key information without having to search for it.
4. Use Spacing and Kerning to Create Breathing Room
Superscripts and subscripts can sometimes feel cramped, especially when placed directly next to regular body text. To avoid making your slides look crowded, use spacing and kerning adjustments to create a bit of room between the superscript/subscript text and the surrounding text. This will improve the overall readability and keep your slides looking clean and balanced.
5. Test from Typical Viewing Distances
Before finalizing your presentation, take the time to test your super/subscript slides from typical viewing distances. Whether it’s on a projector, a large screen, or a smaller display, make sure that everything—especially your superscript and subscript text—is legible from the back of the room. This simple step ensures that your audience can read your content without straining their eyes, which is crucial for delivering an effective presentation.
Why Hire Us to Build your Presentation?
If you're reading this, you're probably working on a presentation right now. You could do it all yourself. But the reality is - that’s not going to give you the high-impact presentation you need. It’s a lot of guesswork, a lot of trial and error. And at the end of the day, you’ll be left with a presentation that’s “good enough,” not one that gets results. On the other hand, we’ve spent years crafting thousands of presentations, mastering both storytelling and design. Let us handle this for you, so you can focus on what you do best.