How to do Superscript in Google Docs

Last Updated : 25 Apr, 2024

How to Add a Superscript Text in Google Docs – Quick Steps

Open Google Docs > Select Text to Superscript

Go to Format Tab > Select Text > Select Superscript (X²)

In professional documentation or academic research work, we need to insert the Superscripts in the creating document text. Superscripts are nothing but text that appears slightly above the mainline of the text. Some of the uses of Superscripts are to indicate the footnotes and the page notes, also they are used to describe trademarks and copyright symbols. We often use these Superscripts in the formatting equations.

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Table of Content

What is Superscript in Google Docs
How to use Superscript In Google Docs
Keyboard Shortcuts for Superscript in Google Docs
How to Apply Superscripts to Mathematical Equations in Google Docs
How to Type Superscript Characters in Google Docs
How to add superscript in Google Docs on Mobile

What is Superscript in Google Docs

In Google Docs, a superscript discreetly denotes a numerical or alphabetical character, subtly positioned above and rendered in a slightly reduced size compared to the adjacent text. It frequently finds application in denoting mathematical exponents or annotating footnotes within scholarly documents. The etymology of “superscript” traces back to the Latin term “superscriptus,” signifying “written above.” This amalgamation of “super,” denoting “above,” and “scribere,” signifying “to write,” aptly captures its essence. Within Google Docs, superscripts serve as a subtle means to accentuate and differentiate specific textual components, exemplified by exponentiation or the inclusion of reference footnotes.

Superscript Example in Google Docs

This is the demonstration of Superscript ^{GeeksforGeeks}. Here GeeksforGeeks is Superscripted.

How to use Superscript In Google Docs

Step 1: Open Google Docs

Launch Google Docs in the web browser.

Open Google Docs

Step 2: Open the Document

Now, open the document in which we need to add Superscript for the text. We can also create a new document and add text and then Superscript the content whichever we need.

Open Document

Step 3: Select the Text to Superscript

Now, select the text which you want to be superscript.

In the below example we have selected Copyright Symbol that we will Superscript in next step

Select Text

Step 4: Go to the Format Tab

Once you’ve chosen the content in the document where you want to apply Superscript, go to the Format tab on the top panel.

Go to format

Step 5: Select Text and Click on Superscript

Following that, when you click on the Format tab, a dropdown menu will be revealed. Within this menu, select “Text.” Once you’ve chosen the Text option, a subsequent dropdown menu will appear. In this secondary menu, opt for “Superscript.”

Keyboard Shortcut for Superscript in Windows: Select the text to superscript and press “Ctrl” + “.” (Period)

Select Superscript

Step 6: Superscript added successfully

Upon selecting the “Superscript” option, the text you picked in Step 3 will be transformed into superscript, easily distinguishable in your document as it appears above the regular text.

Superscript added

Keyboard Shortcuts for Superscript in Google Docs

Step 1: Open Google Document

Open the document in which we need to use superscript with the keyboard shortcut.

Opening Document

Step 2: Enter the Text or Numerical Value

Now, enter the character or Numerical value that will be the base of our exponent.

Entering Base Text

Step 3: Press “Ctrl+ Period (.)” on Windows and “Cmd+ Period (.)” on Mac

Now, if you’re using a Windows machine, employ the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Period (Ctrl+ .) or, in the case of a Mac machine, utilize Cmd+Period (Cmd+ .) to apply the exponent formatting.

Using Shortcut and Entering Exponent

Step 4: Preview Supercript Text

By employing this shortcut, you can effortlessly input the exponent without the need for manual steps. To deactivate the superscript formatting, simply utilize the shortcut again to toggle off the superscript mode.

Superscript added and normal text typed

How to Apply Superscripts to Mathematical Equations in Google Docs

Step 1: Open the Document

Open the document in which you need to type exponents in Google Docs using Mathematical Equations.

Opening the Document

Step 2: Click on Insert Tab

After opening the document, we ned to click on the Insert Tab which is placed on the top corner the editing space.

Clicking on Insert Tab

Step 3: Select Equations

Within the options available in the Insert Tab, our objective is to locate and click on the “Equations” option.

Selecting Equations Option

Step 4: Select Math Operations

Once you’ve clicked on “Equations,” a panel will appear below the Insert Tab. From this panel, you should select the “Math Operations” option.

Selecting Math Operations

Step 5: Select x^bEquation

In the Math operations, there are different types of operations, so from this we need to select x^bEquation.

Select xb Equation

Step 6: Enter Base Text

Now, we need to enter the base text. In below screenshot, you can see that we have enetered the base text as “X“.

Entering Base Text

Step 7: Enter Superscript Text

Now, using the “Shift + ^” key on the keybard, we need to enter the superscript text. In the below screenshot, you can see that we have entered “a” as the superscript text.

Entering Superscript Text

How to Type Superscript Characters in Google Docs

Step 1: Open the Document

Open the document in which you need to type exponents in Google Docs using Special Characters.

Opening the Document

Step 2: Enter the Base Text or Numerical Value

Now, enter the character or numerical value that will be the base of our exponent.

Entering Base Text

Step 3: Go to Insert Tab

After entering the base text, click on the Insert tab that is on the top of the editing space.

Clicking on Insert Tab

Step 4: Select Special Characters

From the list of sub-options, select the option as Special Characters.

Selecting the Special Characters option

Step 5: Select Symbol and Superscript

Now, from the drop-down list, we need to select the options Symbol and Superscript which are given in the below screenshot.

Selecting Symbol and Superscript in Dropdown

Step 6: Select any Superscript Character

Among the various characters available, you can choose any one of the superscript characters to apply.

Selecting Special Character

Step 7: Preview Special Character Inserted

After selecting and clicking the character. It will get inserted into our text. In the below screenshot, you can see that, we have selected one of the special characters and it is applied in our document.

Special Character Inserted

How to add superscript in Google Docs on Mobile

Step 1: Install Google Docs App on Mobile Phone

Firstly, we should have the Google Docs application installed on our mobile devices. We can install it from the Play Store or App Store.

Installing Google Docs

Step 2: Create or Open Existing Google Document

Once the installation process is finished, you can proceed to open the document where you intend to apply Superscript to the selected text. Alternatively, you have the option to create a new document, insert the text, and then apply superscript formatting as needed.

Opening the Document

Step 3: Select the Text

Now that the document is open, you should choose the text you wish to format as superscript. To do this, use your fingers on the touch screen display to select the desired text.

Selecting the Area

Step 4: Click on Format Icon

Next, click on the Format icon where the “Superscript” option can be found. For reference, you can refer to the screenshot below to see the location of the Format icon.

Clicking on Format Icon

Step 5: Select the option of Superscript X²

Now, select the option of Superscript (X²) which is shown in the below screenshot.

Selecting Superscript option

Step 6: Preview Applied Superscript

After clicking on the “Superscript” option, the text which we have selected in Step 3 will be superscripted and we can easily identify the superscripted text in our document, as it is above the main text.

Superscript applied successfully

Also read: How to do Subscript in Google Docs

Conclusion

In conclusion, superscripts are an important feature for formatting our text and representing our main mathematical and annotation text in structure and proper layout. Using these superscripts, we can actually represent different types of special symbols, like trademarks, copyrights, units, and measurements. We can also use superscripts for describing or representing the citations and references to the readers.