WD: Setting Custom Superscript/Subscript Font Size and Position

ID: Q189338

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
  • Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0
  • Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 3.0, 3.01, 3.02, 4.0, 5.0, 5.1, 5.1a, 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a

SUMMARY

The superscript and subscript formats applied to text using the predefined key combinations automatically increase or decrease the font size of the selected text. To create easy-to-apply custom superscript and subscript formats that may or may not change the font size, use the appropriate method for your version of Word.


MORE INFORMATION

Word 6.0 (Windows and Macintosh) or Word for Windows 95

The predefined key combinations for superscript and subscript are listed in the following table. 

                  Macintosh                        Windows
                  ---------------------------------------------------------

  Superscript     COMMAND+SHIFT++ (Plus Sign)      CTRL+SHIFT++ (Plus Sign)

  Subscript       COMMAND+= (Equal Sign)           CTRL+= (Equal Sign)
Because the predefined key combinations cannot be assigned to a specific point position, use the following process to assign key combinations to different character positions:
  1. On the Tools menu, click Customize.


  2. Click the Keyboard tab.


  3. In the Categories box, select Format.


  4. In the Commands box, click Raised (for superscript position) or Lowered (for subscript position).


  5. Click Raised (or Lowered), and select a scripting height (for example 5 pt).


  6. Click in the blank text box beneath "Press New Shortcut Key" and key in a key combination (press the keys simultaneously).


  7. Click the Assign button to assign the key to the selected scripting height command.


Word Versions 4.x and 5.x

In Word, the predefined key combinations are as follows:
COMMAND+SHIFT++ (Plus sign) for superscript

COMMAND+SHIFT+- (Hyphen) for subscript
To create several different superscript and subscript sizes, which can be quickly accessed through key commands or menu selections, follow these steps:
  1. On the Edit menu, click Commands.


  2. Press T to move to the top of the list of commands beginning with the letter T. Scroll the list and select either the Subscript or Superscript style.


  3. In the point size box, type the distance that you want the character to be offset from the rest of the text [for example, type 3 pt].


  4. Click the Add button next to the Keys box and assign a keystroke to this new command. Then, click the Add button next to Menu to add the new command to the displayed menu.


Word Versions 3.x for the Macintosh

Using AutoMac III, custom superscript and subscript formats can be quickly implemented through quick key commands. To create an AutoMac macro that inserts superscripted (or subscripted) text of a desired point size and height level, follow these steps:
  1. Click A (to the left of the Apple menu) to start AutoMac. (This assumes that it has already been installed. If it has not, refer to page 5 of the AutoMac III manual.)


  2. Click the Record button in the first AutoMac dialog box.


  3. In the second dialog box, type a key command and a name for the macro, and then click the Record button.


  4. Hold down the COMMAND+SHIFT++ (PLUS) keys.

    This formats the following text as superscript [use COMMAND+OPTION+- (HYPHEN) to get subscript].


  5. Press COMMAND+D to bring up the Format Character dialog box.


  6. Type the desired point size of the superscript.


  7. If the desired height of the superscript is anything other than 3 points (the default), press the TAB key and type in the desired height.


  8. Press RETURN.


  9. Click the "A" to stop the macro.


This macro allows you to subscript or superscript the following text in the desired format. To quickly move back to normal text, press the COMMAND+SHIFT+SPACEBAR keys (Plain For Style command).


REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word User's Guide," version 6.0, page 726

"Reference to Microsoft Word," version 4.0 page 33

Additional query words: super script sub scripted

Keywords : kbdta wordnt ntword kblayout word6 winword2 word7 word95
Version : MACINTOSH:3.0,3.01,3.02,4.0,5.0,5.1,5.1a,6.0,6.0.1,6.0.1a; WINDOWS:2.0c,6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,7.0a; winnt:6.0
Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: January 4, 2000
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