Excel Subscript, Superscript & Strikethrough Formatting

This guide shows you how to apply subscript, superscript, and strikethrough formatting to text in Microsoft Excel. These formatting options are useful for scientific notation (like H₂O or x²), showing corrections, or marking tasks as complete. You’ll learn the quick ribbon methods, keyboard shortcuts, and how to format only part of a cell’s content.

What You’ll Need

• Microsoft Excel (2016 or later for the steps below; earlier versions have similar options)
• A worksheet with text or numbers you want to format
• Basic familiarity with selecting cells and using the ribbon

Step-by-Step

1. Select the cell or specific characters. Click a cell to format everything in it, or double-click the cell and highlight only the characters you want to change (for example, the “2” in H2O).
2. Open the Format Cells dialog. Right-click the selected cell or highlighted text and choose Format Cells from the context menu. Alternatively, press Ctrl+1 on Windows or Cmd+1 on Mac.
3. Go to the Font tab. In the Format Cells dialog, click the Font tab if it isn’t already active.
4. Check the effect you want. Under the “Effects” section, you’ll see checkboxes for Strikethrough, Superscript, and Subscript. Check the one you need. You can only check one of Superscript or Subscript at a time, but you can combine either with Strikethrough.
5. Click OK. The formatting applies immediately to your selected cell or text.

Quick Ribbon Method (for whole cells):

1. Select the cell(s).
2. Go to the Home tab on the ribbon.
3. In the Font group, click the small arrow in the bottom-right corner (the Format Cells launcher) to open the same dialog.
4. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl+5 (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+X (Mac) toggles strikethrough. There are no default shortcuts for superscript or subscript, but you can add them to the Quick Access Toolbar (see Tips).

Common Mistakes

• Applying to the whole cell when you only want part. If you select the cell and open Format Cells, the effect applies to all text in that cell. To format just a few characters, double-click the cell and highlight them first.
• Using the wrong effect. Superscript raises text (like exponents), subscript lowers it (like chemical formulas). Double-check which one you need.
• Forgetting to turn it off. After typing a superscript, remember to uncheck the box or the next text you type will also be superscript.
• Confusing strikethrough with other line effects. Excel’s strikethrough is a single line through the middle. There’s no double strikethrough or underline option in the same checkbox.

Tips

• Add to Quick Access Toolbar: If you use superscript or subscript often, add them to the Quick Access Toolbar. Click the dropdown arrow at the top of the Excel window, choose More Commands, select “All Commands” from the dropdown, find Superscript or Subscript, and click Add.
• Use for footnotes: Superscript numbers are great for referencing footnotes in a table.
• Combine with other formatting: You can apply bold, italic, and color alongside these effects.
• Keyboard shortcut for strikethrough: Ctrl+5 (Windows) is a quick toggle. On Mac, it’s Cmd+Shift+X.
• Copy formatting: Use the Format Painter (paintbrush icon on the Home tab) to copy the formatting to other cells quickly.

Troubleshooting

Formatting doesn’t apply to part of the cell. Make sure you double-click the cell and highlight the exact characters. If you only single-click, the formatting will apply to the entire cell.

Superscript and subscript both grayed out. This happens when you have selected multiple cells with different formats, or you’re in edit mode but haven’t selected any text. Click into the cell and highlight the characters, then try again.

Strikethrough shortcut not working. Check if you have a different keyboard layout or if the shortcut is being intercepted by another program. You can also use the Format Cells dialog as a fallback.

Formatting disappears when you save and reopen. This is rare but can happen if the file is saved in an older format (.xls) that doesn’t fully support these effects. Save as .xlsx to preserve formatting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use superscript and subscript in the same cell?

Yes, but not on the same character. You can format part of the text as superscript and another part as subscript by selecting each part separately and applying the effect.

Is there a keyboard shortcut for superscript or subscript?

Excel doesn’t have built-in shortcuts for these, but you can create your own by adding the commands to the Quick Access Toolbar and then using Alt+number (where number is the position of the command).

How do I remove strikethrough formatting?

Select the cell or text, open Format Cells (Ctrl+1), and uncheck the Strikethrough box. Or use the Ctrl+5 shortcut to toggle it off.

Can I apply these formats to numbers?

Yes, you can format numbers as superscript or subscript, but the number will still be treated as a number for calculations. For example, you can display 10² but the underlying value is still 10, not 100.

Why is my strikethrough not showing in the printout?

Check your print settings. Sometimes the “Print” option for formatting is disabled. Go to File > Print > Page Setup, and ensure “Print” is selected under “Sheet” options for formatting.

Does Excel for the web support these formatting options?

Yes, Excel for the web supports subscript, superscript, and strikethrough. You can access them through the Home tab > Font group, but the keyboard shortcuts may differ.

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