Examples
Each example follows the selected range exactly. This tool changes characters; it does not interpret a formula.
- H2OH₂O
- CO2CO₂
- a1+b2a₁₊b₂
Character coverage
Unicode includes complete subscript digits and a smaller set of Latin subscript letters. Unsupported characters stay readable and unchanged. The complete table below lists every supported source position and marks unavailable forms with —.
- Digits
- All digits convert in either mode.₀ ₁ ₂ ₃ ₄ ₅ ₆ ₇ ₈ ₉
- Symbols
- Listed operators and parentheses convert character by character.₊ ₋ ₌ ₍ ₎
- Letters
- A limited lowercase set is available: a, e, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, r, s, t, u, v, and x. Uppercase subscript letters are not available.
- Not formula-aware
- Input such as 10+2 converts every supported character. LiteralKit does not decide which part should be raised or lowered.
Complete subscript character table (68 entries)
| Source | Output | Code point |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | ₀ | U+2080 |
| 1 | ₁ | U+2081 |
| 2 | ₂ | U+2082 |
| 3 | ₃ | U+2083 |
| 4 | ₄ | U+2084 |
| 5 | ₅ | U+2085 |
| 6 | ₆ | U+2086 |
| 7 | ₇ | U+2087 |
| 8 | ₈ | U+2088 |
| 9 | ₉ | U+2089 |
| + | ₊ | U+208A |
| - | ₋ | U+208B |
| − | ₋ | U+208B |
| = | ₌ | U+208C |
| ( | ₍ | U+208D |
| ) | ₎ | U+208E |
| a | ₐ | U+2090 |
| b | — | — |
| c | — | — |
| d | — | — |
| e | ₑ | U+2091 |
| f | — | — |
| g | — | — |
| h | ₕ | U+2095 |
| i | ᵢ | U+1D62 |
| j | ⱼ | U+2C7C |
| k | ₖ | U+2096 |
| l | ₗ | U+2097 |
| m | ₘ | U+2098 |
| n | ₙ | U+2099 |
| o | ₒ | U+2092 |
| p | ₚ | U+209A |
| q | — | — |
| r | ᵣ | U+1D63 |
| s | ₛ | U+209B |
| t | ₜ | U+209C |
| u | ᵤ | U+1D64 |
| v | ᵥ | U+1D65 |
| w | — | — |
| x | ₓ | U+2093 |
| y | — | — |
| z | — | — |
| A | — | — |
| B | — | — |
| C | — | — |
| D | — | — |
| E | — | — |
| F | — | — |
| G | — | — |
| H | — | — |
| I | — | — |
| J | — | — |
| K | — | — |
| L | — | — |
| M | — | — |
| N | — | — |
| O | — | — |
| P | — | — |
| Q | — | — |
| R | — | — |
| S | — | — |
| T | — | — |
| U | — | — |
| V | — | — |
| W | — | — |
| X | — | — |
| Y | — | — |
| Z | — | — |
Unicode source
Unicode Superscripts and Subscripts chart. Official encoded subscript inventory and character names.
How this Subscript Generator works
The shortest path stays visible and predictable on both desktop and mobile.
Choose the direction
Use To subscript for plain text or From subscript for existing Unicode subscript.
Enter plain text
Digits and listed symbols convert immediately. Turn on supported letters only when you need them.
Verify and copy
Check what changed, then copy the exact Unicode result into your destination.
Ready-to-copy subscript
Common formulas and notations, ready to paste. Click one to copy it.
Where it helps
Use real Unicode subscript when you need a lightweight, copyable alternative to rich-text formatting.
- Chemical formulas
- Turn H2O, CO2, and similar plain text into H₂O and CO₂ without opening an equation editor.
- Variables and indices
- Create short indices such as a₁ or x₂ in notes, messages, and documentation.
- Teaching materials
- Prepare copyable examples for worksheets, slides, and learning platforms that accept plain text.
- Limited style text
- Convert only the subscript letters Unicode actually defines; other letters remain unchanged.
Type subscript without a generator
Inside a rich-text editor, native subscript formatting is usually the better tool. These are the standard shortcuts; use LiteralKit when you need plain text that survives outside the editor.
- Microsoft Word (Windows)
- Ctrl + =
- Microsoft Word (Mac)
- ⌘ + =
- Google Docs
- Ctrl + , (Mac: ⌘ + ,)
- PowerPoint (Windows)
- Ctrl + =
- Excel
- No shortcut — Format Cells → Font → Subscript
- HTML
- <sub>…</sub>
- LaTeX (math mode)
- x_{2}
Where subscript text works
The output is ordinary Unicode text, so where it works is decided by the destination's font, not by LiteralKit. As a rule of thumb:
- Chat and social apps
- Subscript digits (₂ ₃ ₄) are widely covered by the fonts on current phones and desktops, so formulas like H₂O normally display as sent in Discord, WhatsApp, and similar apps.
- Documents and email
- Pasted characters follow the document font like any other text. Inside Word or Google Docs, native subscript formatting still gives cleaner typography — see the shortcuts above.
- Code editors and terminals
- Monospace fonts vary in how they draw subscript characters; paste a sample before relying on alignment.
- Subscript letters
- Unicode defines only a small set of subscript letters, so full words rarely convert. Digits are the reliable part; unsupported letters stay unchanged by design.
Frequently asked questions
Honest limits make the copied result easier to trust.
Does LiteralKit validate a chemical formula?
No. It converts listed characters but does not check chemistry, capitalization, charge, or formula structure.
Why are there fewer subscript letters?
Unicode defines a complete subscript digit set but only selected Latin letters. LiteralKit does not invent the missing ones.
Can I use the result in Word or Google Docs?
Usually, if the chosen font contains the needed glyphs. Rich-text subscript formatting is still preferable for professional document typography.
Why might another app show a box?
The destination device or font may not contain that Unicode glyph. Try a font with broad symbol coverage or use the app’s native formatting.
Should I use this or my editor's subscript button?
If the text lives inside Word, Docs, or another rich-text editor, the editor's own subscript is typographically better and stays editable. Unicode subscript is for plain-text destinations: chats, notes, filenames, and fields that strip formatting.
How do I write an ion like SO₄²⁻?
Atom counts are subscript and the charge is superscript, so you need both tools: convert the 4 here, then convert the 2− with the superscript generator. The result SO₄²⁻ is plain Unicode text like everything else on this page.
What does reverse subscript conversion do?
From subscript reverses recognized characters by this page’s table; it does not reconstruct chemical, mathematical, or writing intent. Every ₂ becomes 2, and any mapped character reverses even when it also serves as an ordinary letter in another writing context.