Weekly Computer Tip # 234
5 June 2008


Keyboard shortcut to turn superscript/subscript on/off
(Word 2000-2007)

A day early (or almost a week late; you choose! ;-) but herewith another great keyboard shortcut from one of my course participants. This week's bragging rights go to (birthday girl) Carole Weightman (thanks, Carole!) who got us all excited about a keyboard shortcut to turn superscript and subscript on and off.

Here's how:

  1. Create subscript (i.e. small letters below the text baseline) : CTRL + +
  2. Create superscript (i.e. small letters above the line of text) : CTRL + SHIFT + +

The keyboard combination is a toggle, so you use it to switch it on and off.

For example, to type the molecular formula for water (H2O with the 2 below the text baseline) do the following:

  1. Type H
  2. While holding down the CTRL key, press the plus sign on your keyboard (not on the numeric keypad)
  3. Type 2
  4. While holding down the CTRL key, press the plus sign on your keyboard
  5. Type O

Obviously you can also first type H2O, select the 2 and press CTRL + + but whatever you do ... away with the mouse!

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