SuperSub Gen

How to Add Superscript and Subscript in Google Slides

Google Slides superscript and subscript tools keep math, chemistry, and citation text clear inside your presentation. This guide walks through how to superscript in Google Slides, how to add subscript in Google Slides, and the shortcuts that presenters rely on during live edits.

Quick Reference: Superscript & Subscript Shortcuts in Google Slides

Remember these commands when you need to answer “how to do superscript in Google Slides” or “how to subscript in Google Slides” in seconds.

Superscript

  • Ctrl + . — Windows / ChromeOS
  • Cmd + . — Mac
  • Format → Text → Superscript
  • Insert → Special characters → search “superscript”

Subscript

  • Ctrl + , — Windows / ChromeOS
  • Cmd + , — Mac
  • Format → Text → Subscript
  • Insert → Special characters → search “subscript”

Method 1: Format Menu (Most Reliable)

The Format menu works in every modern browser and is the simplest answer to how to add superscript in Google Slides or how to add subscript in Google Slides without memorizing shortcuts.

Superscript via Format

  1. Select the text box or highlight the characters you want to raise.
  2. Click Format in the top menu, hover over Text, then choose Superscript.
  3. Type new superscript content or click the option again to return to normal text.

Subscript via Format

  1. Highlight the characters you need to lower.
  2. Go to Format → Text → Subscript.
  3. Type or paste your subscript text, then toggle the command off when you are done.

Method 2: Keyboard Shortcuts

Google Slides supports the same superscript shortcut Google Slides users rely on in Docs: Ctrl/Cmd plus a punctuation key. Shortcuts toggle formatting on highlighted text or at the cursor.

Superscript Shortcut

Press Ctrl + . on Windows or Cmd + . on Mac to toggle superscript. Use it to mark footnotes, mathematical exponents, or trademark symbols while presenting.

Subscript Shortcut

Press Ctrl + , on Windows or Cmd + , on Mac to toggle subscript. Ideal for chemical formulas or analytical labels.

Shortcut Tips

  • Shortcuts act as toggles—press them again to return to standard text.
  • If shortcuts fail, open Help → Keyboard shortcuts to confirm that superscript and subscript are enabled in your account.

Method 3: Insert Special Characters

For one-off symbols—like superscript TM or subscript numbers—use the built-in character map so your text stays consistent across themes.

  1. Place the cursor where the character should appear.
  2. Choose Insert → Special characters.
  3. Search for keywords such as “superscript three” or “subscript two”.
  4. Click the symbol to insert it directly in your slide.

The special characters panel keeps recently used superscript Google Slides symbols handy, making it easy to reuse them later in the deck.

Method 4: Use the Superscript/Subscript Generator

Need formatted text fast? Generate superscript on Google Slides or subscript on Google Slides content with our tool and paste it straight into your text box.

  1. Open the free generator at supersubgen.com.
  2. Type the characters you want to convert.
  3. Copy the superscript or subscript output and paste it into Google Slides.

Generated characters are pure Unicode, so they stay formatted in speaker notes, captions, and exported PDFs.

Practical Examples: Superscript and Subscript on Google Slides

Use these templates as you fine-tune superscript Google Slides charts, timelines, and science slides.

Equations & Footnotes

Superscript in slides for squared variablesx²
Footnote marker using superscript shortcut Google SlidesText¹
Exponential growtheᵏᵗ

Science & Data Labels

Google Slides subscript for water moleculesH₂O
Subscript on Google Slides for CO₂ emissionsCO₂
Glucose formulaC₆H₁₂O₆

Quick Practice: Add Superscript to a Bullet

  1. Place the cursor after a bullet label.
  2. Press the superscript shortcut (Ctrl/Cmd + .).
  3. Type the note number, then press the shortcut again to continue normal text.

The Quickest Way to Get Superscript and Subscript Text

Google Slides covers the basics, but when you need formatted text for multiple decks, Docs, or Sheets, the fastest option is to generate ready-to-paste Unicode characters.

Try our free tool to create superscript Google Slides text and matching subscripts that keep their formatting across browsers, speaker notes, and exported PDFs.

🚀Try the Online Superscript and Subscript Generator

Troubleshooting

Shortcut Doesn’t Work

  • Check whether your browser or extension uses the same keys. Reassign conflicting shortcuts in the extension settings.
  • Open Help → Keyboard shortcuts and enable the superscript and subscript options if they are toggled off.

Formatting Disappears

  • Keep text within a single text box. Splitting text across shapes can reset superscript or subscript formatting.
  • When pasting from other apps, use Edit → Paste without formatting, then reapply superscript shortcut Google Slides recognizes.

Summary

You now know how to do superscript in Google Slides, how to do subscript in Google Slides, and how to keep both styles intact during last-minute edits. Combine Format menu commands, keyboard shortcuts, and special characters to keep your slides polished.

For quick copy/paste characters, our superscript generator and subscript generator stay one click away.