How to Do Exponents in Word: Tips and Shortcuts

Typing exponents (or powers) on a computer can be either very simple or unnecessarily tricky, depending on where you’re trying to do it.

For instance, inserting an exponent in Microsoft Word is quick and easy using built-in tools. But doing the same in Excel or a web browser might require more effort or a different approach.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

How to type exponents in Microsoft Word using shortcuts and menus
How to insert visual superscripts in Excel
How to calculate powers using formulas in Excel

Let’s begin with Microsoft Word.

Table of Contents

How to Do Exponents in Word

To type exponents in Word, you use the Superscript feature.

A superscript is a smaller character positioned slightly above the normal text line—commonly used in math (like 8²) or references (like footnotes¹).

Use superscripts to type exponents in Word

Word has a command that allows you to type superscripts. Using this command, you can effortlessly type exponents in your Word documents. The steps below will show you how.

As an example, I’ll show you how to type 8 raised to the power 2. However, the technique applied here can be used to type any exponent in Microsoft Word.

Method 1: Using the Superscript Button

To do exponents in Word:

Place your cursor where you want the exponent.
Type the base number (e.g., 8).

After you type the base number, press Ctrl+Shift+=. These hotkeys will place the cursor slightly above the line of text. Alternatively, go to the Home tab, in the Font group and click on the Superscript icon.

Press Ctrl+Shift+= Or Go to Home>Font>Superscript

Now type the exponent, which is 2 in this example.
Press Ctrl+Shift+= again to switch the cursor back to normal.

This is just one of the four simple ways to type exponents in Word.

The other methods are explored below.

✅ Method 2: Using a Keyboard Shortcut After Typing

To type exponents in Word using a keyboard shortcut, type both the base number and the exponent. Then highlight only the exponent and press Ctrl+Shift+=.

Obey the following instructions for a step-by-step instructions to Type Exponents in Word using the keyboard shortcut.

Open up your Word document.
Place the cursor where you want to type the exponent.
Type both the base number and the exponent or power. For instance, if you want to type 8², just type 82.
Now highlight the exponent. In this example, our exponent is 2.
Press Ctrl+Shift+= to make the 2 a superscript.

This is how you may quickly type exponents in Microsoft Word using the superscript keyboad shortcut.

✅ Method 3: Using the Font Dialog Box

This method also involved using the superscript command, but in a different approach.

The steps are outlined below:

Open up your Word document.
Place the cursor where you want to type the exponent.
Type both the base number and the exponent or power. For instance, if you want to type 8², just type 82.
Now select the exponent. In this example, the exponent is 2.
After selecting the 2, press Ctrl+D to display the Fonts dialog.
On the Font tab, click to select the Superscript checkbox.

using the Fonts dialog to put exponents in Word

Click on the OK button.

This is how you may type superscript in Word using the Fonts dialog.

✅ Method 4: Using the Equation Tool

If you’re writing mathematical content, the Equation Tool offers a more formal way to type powers.

Without any further ado, below are the steps involved:

Place your cursor where you want to insert the exponent.
Now go to the Insert tab, in the Symbols group, click on the Symbol drop-down and select Equation from the list. Alternatively, press Alt+= on your keyboard. This action should display the equation field. This field is where you will type the exponent.
Clicking inside the field will introduce a new Design tab. Click on this Design tab.
From the Structures group, click on the Script button and select Superscript from the drop-down.

how to do exponents in Word using the equation tool

This will display a structure of a superscript in the equation fi