How to make a subscript in Microsoft Excel 

Subscripts in Microsoft Excel allow you to present and manipulate data in a more clear and more concise way. Subscripts are a type of formatting that makes a character or group of characters appear smaller and lower than the rest of the text, which can be helpful in expressing chemical formulas, mathematical equations, footnotes, and other technical or scientific notations.

In this tutorial, we will learn how to make a subscript in Microsoft Excel. Excel offers several ways to add subscripts. One way is to format the text as a subscript by accessing the “Format Cells” option. Another option is to use the Ink Equation feature. Additionally, the Script structure in the Equation tab can be used as an alternative method to add subscripts in Excel.

For instance, we have a spreadsheet containing a list of chemical formulas. We want to make subscripts for the number of atoms in each element.

Method 1: Formatting the Numbers as Subscripts

Step 1 – Select the Number of Atoms

• Select the number of atoms in the chemical formulae.

Step 2 – Right Click and Select the Format Cells Option

• Right-click on the selected number.
• Select the Format Cells option in the context menu.

Step 3 – Check the Subscript Box

• In the dialog box, check the box with the “Subscript” option.
• Click on OK

Step 4 – Repeat the Steps for Each Chemical Formulae

• Repeat the above-mentioned steps to convert the atomic number of each chemical formula into a subscript.

Method 2: Using the Ink Equation Feature

Step 1 – Navigate to the Insert Tab

• Navigate to the Insert tab.

Step 2 -To access equations, click the Symbols Button and select the drop-down arrow for Equation

• Click on the Symbols button in the Insert tab.
• Select the drop-down arrow for Equation

Step 3 – Click on the Ink Equation Option

• Click on the Ink Equation option in the menu.

Step 4 – Enter the Chemical Formulae

• Enter the Chemical formulae, and make sure that the input is recognized by Excel.
• Click on the Insert option.

Step 5 – Repeat the Steps for Each Chemical Formulae

• Repeat the above-mentioned steps for each chemical formula.

Method 3: Using the Script Structures Option

Step 1 – Locate the Insert Tab

• Locate the Insert tab in the menu bar.

Step 2 – Click on the Symbols Button and Click on the Equation Option

• Click on the Symbols button.
• Click on the Equation option in the drop-down menu.

Step 3 – Click on the Script Button

• Click on the Script button in the Structures group.

Step 4 – Select the Subscript Structure

• Select the Subscript structure.

Step 5 – Enter the Formulae and the Subscript

• Enter the chemical formulae with the subscript in the lower box.
• Drag the equation to the desired destination.