How to Type Subscript & Superscript in Notion (with Easy Shortcuts)

Follow this guide on how to use subscript and superscript quickly with simple Notion shortcuts.

Oct 8, 2025
How to Type Subscript & Superscript in Notion (with Easy Shortcuts)
Writing notes in Notion is simple, but adding small details like subscript and superscript can be tricky. These tiny text styles make your formulas, footnotes, and chemical symbols look correct. Knowing how to do them saves time and keeps your pages neat.
You don’t need extra apps or complicated tools. Notion lets you add subscript and superscript with just a few clicks or keyboard shortcuts. Once you learn them, your workflow becomes faster and smoother.
This guide shows exactly how to type subscript and superscript in Notion. You’ll get practical steps, shortcuts, and tips to use them everywhere in your pages. By the end, your text will look professional, clear, and easy to read.

How to Type Subscript in Notion

If you want a subscript in Notion, the easiest way is with the equation feature.
Start by typing /math and pick either Inline Equation or Block Equation.
Inside the box that appears, type your text and add an underscore (_) before the character you want to make a subscript.
For example, type H_20, and it will turn into H₂O, with the “2” as a subscript.
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If you need more than one character in subscript, put them in curly braces {}. For instance, C_{12}H_{22}0_{11} becomes C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁.
When you finish, click Done. Your subscript is set and will stay correctly formatted anywhere on your Notion page. This method works in both inline and block equations, so you can choose what fits your notes.

How to Type Superscript in Notion

Superscript works almost the same way as subscript.
Start by typing /math and select an equation or inline option. Use the caret symbol (^) before the character you want to turn into superscript.
For example, typing 4^5 will display 4⁵, with the “5” in superscript.
For multiple characters, use curly braces { } like x^{10} to get x¹⁰. You can choose inline or block equations depending on how your text flows.
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When you’re done, click Done. Your superscript will appear cleanly and stay formatted across your Notion pages, making formulas, footnotes, or powers look professional and easy to read.

Keyboard Shortcuts for Subscript and Superscript in Notion

Notion lets you type subscript and superscript quickly using a simple keyboard shortcut.
  • On a Mac, press CMD + Shift + E.
  • On Windows, press CTRL + Shift + E.
This opens an inline math equation right inside your page.
Once the equation box appears, you can type (_) to make subscript and (^) to make superscript.
When your formula is complete, press Enter or click Done. Notion will format your text automatically. This method is fast, keeps your page clean, and works anywhere you need precise scientific, mathematical, or footnote formatting.

Use Cases and Practical Examples

Subscript and superscript help make text precise. They appear in math, science, and writing to show exact meaning. In Notion, using them correctly keeps your notes clean and easy to read.
  • In math, superscripts show powers, like 2² or x³. Subscripts mark indices, such as a₁, a₂, or xₙ. This makes formulas clear and avoids confusion when you solve problems.
  • In chemistry, subscript shows the number of atoms. Water is written as H₂O. Carbon dioxide is CO₂. Superscripts can show charges in ions, like Na⁺ or SO₄²⁻.
  • Scientific notation uses superscript to shorten very large or small numbers. For example, 6.02 × 10²³. This keeps numbers readable without long strings of zeros.
  • For footnotes and references, superscripts mark notes in text. You can point to sources or explanations without breaking the flow of writing.
  • Units of measurement often need subscript or superscript. Square meters appear as m², cubic meters as m³. It shows the correct dimension of measurement.
  • In linguistics, subscripts or superscripts annotate phonetic symbols or special notes. They help readers understand pronunciation or stress.
  • In coding and programming, subscript marks array indices like arr₀, arr₁. Superscripts can represent powers or exponents in formulas.
Notion’s equation blocks make all these uses simple. You can type them directly, keep formulas aligned, and make your notes look professional. Every type of subscript or superscript fits cleanly inside a block.

Take Your Notes and Content Online with Bullet

Just as subscript and superscript help you keep your Notion notes precise and clear, Bullet helps you take structured content online effortlessly. With Bullet, you can turn your notes, formulas, and detailed content into a fully designed website in minutes.
Bullet’s AI helps you to automatically style your pages, suggest layouts, and optimize formatting. Whether you want to showcase your math notes, chemistry formulas, or coding examples online, Bullet ensures everything looks professional and readable online. You don’t need to tweak HTML or mess with plugins; the AI does the heavy lifting.
Think of it this way: if subscript and superscript make your text accurate in Notion, Bullet’s AI makes your content visually perfect on the web. You can focus on what you want to share, while Bullet handles design, spacing, and formatting for a clean, professional website.

Final Thoughts

Adding subscript and superscript in Notion keeps your notes precise and professional. Using the equation blocks or keyboard shortcuts, you can format numbers, formulas, footnotes, and scientific notations quickly.
Subscripts are ideal for indices, chemical formulas, and units, while superscripts work for powers, scientific notation, and references. Both make your text easier to read and understand.
With these steps and tips, you can type subscript and superscript anywhere in Notion and using Bullet to present your content, your work becomes both accurate and visually appealing, whether it’s for personal notes, educational content, or professional projects. Clear content meets clean design, and you control both with ease.
Build Website with Bullet AI

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Can I use subscript or superscript without using equation blocks in Notion?
Notion doesn’t support direct subscript or superscript formatting in regular text. However, you can copy formatted characters (like ², ₃, etc.) from character maps or websites and paste them into your Notion text.
  1. Does Notion support Markdown for subscript and superscript?
No, Notion doesn’t support Markdown syntax for subscript or superscript directly. You’ll need to use the equation block or paste formatted Unicode characters instead.
  1. How can I add subscript or superscript on Notion mobile app?
You can use the same equation block method. Type /equation in the mobile app, then add _{} or ^{} syntax. You can also copy-paste subscript or superscript characters from your phone’s symbol keyboard.
  1. Can I display multiple subscripts or superscripts in one line?
Yes. You can combine them using the same syntax inside the equation block. For example, E=mc^{2}_{x} will show both a superscript and subscript together.