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Superscript in Excel

Madhuri Thakur
Article byMadhuri Thakur

Updated August 19, 2023

Superscript in Excel

Introduction to Superscript in Excel

Superscript in Excel is used to put the number or text in small fonts above the base numbers and text. It is like giving power raised to any base number as we do in mathematics. It is like using superscript to write the text in the square of base units or text such as Feet2, Meter2, etc. Likewise, we can use superscript numbers, such as 102 or 25. Superscript is not a function in Excel. It is mainly made for MS Work which deals with text. To activate this, go to the edit mode of any cell and select Format Cells from the right-click menu. And from there, we can tick Superscript from the Fonts tab.

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Examples of Superscripts

X2, ab,2nd, sin2(30)

  • X2 – Here, the superscript is ‘2’, a number for its previous character X.
  • Here, the superscript is ‘b’, a character for its previous character.
  • 2nd – Here, the superscript is ‘nd’, a string for its previous number 2.
  • Sin2(30) – The superscript is ‘2’, a number for its previous string ‘sin’.

I hope you all understand what superscript is. Let’s begin with how to do it in Excel.

Steps to get a Superscript Text in Excel

It is easy to input superscript text in Excel; follow these simple steps. Let’s try to input X2.

Input X2 in any of the cells where you require the superscript. Now select number 2 alone by clicking F2 and select 2 or double-click on the cell and select 2 alone.

I am giving the screenshot for a better understanding.

Method #1

Superscript Method 1

Once you select the number 2 and right-click the mouse, a pop-up will appear, as shown in the picture below.

Superscript Method 1-1

From the popup menu, select Format cells.

Superscript Method 1-2

Then the “format cells” menu will appear.

Superscript Method 1-3

From the menu “Font”, we can select the required font for the superscript.

Superscript Method 1-4

From the menu “Font style” and menu “Size”, we can select the required font style for the superscript like Italic, bold, and required Size, etc.

Superscript Method 1-5

From the menu “Effects”, we can select the option superscript.

Superscript Method 1-6

After selecting the superscript, select “ok”, then you can find the number 2 will be on the top of X as a superscript of X.

Superscript Method 1-7

Similarly, you can perform superscript text for other examples.

For your better understanding, find the below screenshots for one more example.

Method #2

First, give the “2nd” in an Excel cell.

Superscript Method 2

Select “nd” alone and do right-click. Then select “format cell” and “superscript” as marked.

Superscript Method 2-1

The result is:

Superscript Method 2-2

How to Use Superscript in Excel?

This superscript and subscript feature is helpful while working with Mathematical or scientifically related data.

We have a few more ways to input superscript text in Excel.

You can download this Superscript Excel Template here – Superscript Excel Template

Superscript in Excel Example #1 -Through Quick access toolbar(QCT)

We can input superscripts through QCT, also. Here are the steps on how to do that.

For people who are not aware quick access toolbar, below is the screenshot.

Superscript Example 1

Currently, we have “Save”, “Undo”, and “Redo”; hence we need to add the “Superscript” option to QCT.

Click on the “File” menu the following dropdown menu will appear. From that drop-down menu, select “Options”.

Options Tab

When you click “Options”, another screen will appear, as shown below.

Quick Access Tool

Select “Quick Access Toolbar” from the above screen, highlighted left-hand. We can observe there are multiple numbers of commands available in the rectangle screen. One can scroll, select the required commands and click on “Add” to add to the QCT as we required the Superscript command, search for that, select superscript, and click on Add.

Superscript Example 1-3

Once you click “add”, the superscript will move from the left to right side QCT rectangular box.

Superscript Example 1-4

And then click on the “Ok” button at the bottom; the menu will close and return to Excel.

Now we can observe the QCT; an additional option is visible that is x2 marked in the picture.

Superscript Example 1-5

It is easy to input superscript; select the letter or text you want to convert as superscript and click on the X2 option in the Quick Access toolbar.

If you want to remove the superscript, reselect the X2 command, then it will be converted to the normal text again.

Superscript in Excel Example #2 – Applying Superscript for Number

Whatever process we discussed will not work for numbers, i.e., 25. you can try both ways, whether from QAT or from right-click. The movement you move from the cell will convert to normal numbers.

To apply superscript for numbers, follow the below steps.

Click on the “Insert” at the top. If we observe the righthand side, we can observe the option” Equation”, which is marked.

Insert tab

Click on the option “Equation”, and then the menu changes to the design.

Design Tab

Click on the “ex” option, which is marked then the dropdown will come from that drop-down select the format for superscript, which I marked in the below picture.

Superscript

We can observe a pattern in the cell, as shown in the below picture.

Superscript Example 2-3

Select the first cell and give the Base number and then select the small box at the top to give the power.

Superscript Example 2-4

Superscript Example 2-5

Superscript in Excel Example #3

Another way is when you click on the “Equation”, it will take you to the “design” menu. We can observe the “Ink Equation” option on the left-hand side.

Ink Equation

Once you click “Ink Equation”, another screen will pop up there; you can manually write the required text using your mouse. Once your text is over, click on “Insert” at the bottom of the box.

Math Input Control

The Output is:

Superscript Example 3-2

Superscript in Excel Example #4 – Superscript for multiple numbers at a time

Select the range of numbers you want to give a similar superscript number. Let’s take the example of 5 numbers to which we want to apply superscript 2.

Select all 5 numbers.

Superscript Example 4

Now right-click, and a popup will come up. From that popup, choose format cells.

Format Cells

After that, select “custom” at the bottom and select “zero,” as marked in the picture.

Superscript Example 4-2

Keep the cursor at zero.

Hold the ALT key and give 0178; then zero becomes zero square. Then click on “Ok”.

Superscript Example 4-3

Now we can check the Excel sheet; all the selected numbers have Power 2.

Example 4-4

Similarly, we can input superscripts 1 and 3 also.

Shortcut for 1 is held ALT + 0185

Shortcut for 3 is held ALT+ 0179.

Shortcut for Superscript

If we want to input superscript text with a keyboard shortcut, then it is very easy. Input the required text in the Excel cell, select which you want to convert as superscript, and then press the ALT button from the keyboard.

The superscript option on the Quick Access toolbar will highlight a number as shown below:

shortcut 1

Observe that number and click that number on the keyboard. Here it is 5 marked in the above picture for reference.

 shortcut 1-1

Things to Remember About the Superscript in Excel

In Excel, users utilize superscripts to input mathematical and scientific data. a. Superscripts can be input in multiple ways, but those ways are unsuitable for a number format. Use the special process for numbers alone, as discussed above. When an input for the number, it will not give any results; it is just for representation purposes. Subscript is also quite similar to superscript. One can also try subscript with the help of the above methods.

Recommended Articles

This has been a guide to a Superscript in Excel. Here we discuss its uses and how to use Superscript in Excel with Excel examples and downloadable templates. You may also look at these useful functions in Excel –

  1. TRUE Function in Excel
  2. ABS Function in Excel
  3. SUBTOTAL Function in Excel
  4. Excel ROUNDDOWN Function
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