This article describes how to create subscript and superscript in Google Slides using the Format menu.

What to Know

  • Highlight the text to be formatted, go to Format > Text, and then choose either Superscript or Subscript.To undo, repeat the procedure above. Selecting Superscript or Subscript toggles the effect on and off.To insert special characters: Go to Insert > Special Characters and then search for Subscript or Superscript. Select a search result.

How to Add Superscript in Google Slides

To add superscript to a slide:

  • Highlight the text you want to superscript.
  • Click Format.
  • Click Text.
  • Click Superscript.

How to Add Subscript to Google Slides

To add subscript to text in a slide:

Highlight the text you want to superscript.

Click Format.

Click Text.

Click Superscript.

  • On your slide, highlight the text you want to subscript.
  • Click Format.
  • Click Text.
  • Click Subscript.

How to Insert Special Characters to Add Superscript or Subscript

If you’re looking for something a little fancier to add to your slides or you need to insert a certain character, such as a Greek symbol, you can use a tool called Insert Special Characters to get the job done. This option lets you select specific characters that you can’t otherwise add in Slides.

On your slide, highlight the text you want to subscript.

Click Subscript.

To open and use the Insert Special Characters menu, follow these steps:

  • Place your cursor at the location where you want the special character to be inserted.
  • Click Insert.
  • Click Special Characters.
  • When the Insert Special Characters menu box appears, type Subscript or Superscript into the Search box. Your specific search will bring up a selection of menu items to choose from. In this example, we entered Subscript.
  • Select the search result option you want to use.
  • Slides will automatically add it to your document wherever you have placed your cursor.

How to Undo Superscript or Subscript in Slides

If you change your mind about superscripting or subscripting something, just follow the same steps used to add the feature to a word. That process reverses the actions used to add superscript or subscript to your slide.

Place your cursor at the location where you want the special character to be inserted.

Click Insert.

Click Special Characters.

When the Insert Special Characters menu box appears, type Subscript or Superscript into the Search box. Your specific search will bring up a selection of menu items to choose from. In this example, we entered Subscript.

Select the search result option you want to use.

Slides will automatically add it to your document wherever you have placed your cursor.

Why Use Superscript and Subscript?

Both superscript and subscript can indicate footnotes, call out citations such as trademarks, and be embedded into mathematical or scientific equations. Here are some examples:

  • Trademarks and service marks are written in superscript like this: TrademarkTM. Mathematical equations and chemistry compounds use subscripting (for example, H2O).

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