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How to format text as subscript in Excel?

Author Kelly Last modified

While Microsoft Word provides a straightforward subscript button on its toolbar, Excel requires a few more steps to achieve the same formatting. This can make the task of formatting text as subscript in Excel seem a bit more complex. However, with the right approach, you can easily apply subscript formatting to enhance your documents, especially when working with chemical formulas, mathematical expressions, or referencing notes. This tutorial will explain how to format text as subscripts in Microsoft Excel efficiently.

arrow blue right bubbleFormat text as subscript with formatting cells

If you want to format text as subscript in Microsoft Excel, please do as follows:

  • Step 1: Select a cell, range, text or characters in a cell;
  • Step 2: Click the launcher button  launcher button in the Font group under Home tab to open the Format Cells dialog box;
  • Step 3: Go to the Effects section, and check the Subscript option;
  • Step 4: Click OK. See screenshot.

You can also open the Format Cells dialog box with holding down Ctrl + Shift + F keys, or open it with clicking Format Cells command item from context menu.

open the Format Cells dialog box and check the Subscript option

Notes:
  • If the selected cell contains a formula, you can only format the whole cell content as subscript, but not part of numbers or characters in the cell.
  • If the selected cell only contains a value, you can't format the numbers as subscript.

arrow blue right bubbleFormat text as subscript with Kutools for Excel

Kutools for Excel enhances the functionality of Excel by adding a variety of useful features, including an easy-to-use Superscript/Subscript tool. This tool simplifies the process of formatting text as subscript in Excel, a task that can be cumbersome using Excel's native functions. With Kutools, not only can you quickly apply subscript formatting, but you also gain the ability to adjust additional formatting styles for subscript characters.

Kutools for Excel offers over 300 advanced features to streamline complex tasks, boosting creativity and efficiency. Itegarate with AI capabilities, Kutools automates tasks with precision, making data management effortless. Detailed information of Kutools for Excel...         Free trial...

Step 1: Select one cell, and click Kutools > Format > Superscript / Subscript.

click Kutools > Format > Superscript / Subscript

Step 2: Select the characters that you need to format as subscript, and check the Subscript option, see screenshot;

Subscript each character one by one

Step 3: If you want to format other characters as subscript, redo Step 2, and click OK to save settings.

This tool will format characters as subscripts in one cell one by one. And you can format many characters in selected cell as subscript without closing the dialog box. In addition, you can also apply other format style: bold, italic, upper case, font size, and color, etc.

Notes:
  • You must select a cell with content before applying this Superscript / Subscript tool.
  • If the selected cell contains a formula, this tool is not available.
  • If the selected cell only contains a value, you will be requested to convert the value to text; otherwise, you can't format the numbers or characters in the active cell as subscript.
Tips:
  • To use this feature, you should install Kutools for Excel first, please click to download and have a 30-day free trial now.
  • Kutools for Excel's Superscript / Subscript tool can help us easily format text as a superscript or subscript in a cell. It also supports to apply the Bold, Italic, Upper/Lower Case, Font size, and Color for selected characters.

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