Stop Using Ctrl+Shift+= — Here’s How to Do Superscript in Outlook

The first thing most people do when they need superscript in an Outlook email is hit Ctrl+Shift+=. It works in Word. It works in Excel. So they assume it’ll work in Outlook — and then stare at plain text that won’t budge. That’s not your keyboard. It’s Outlook’s editor limitation — and it affects everyone from finance analysts adding "m²" to legal teams citing "§ 12(b)(3)".

The Problem

Outlook doesn’t use the full Word editing engine unless you’re in rich-text mode — and even then, only certain versions support inline formatting shortcuts reliably. In Outlook 365 (web and desktop), the ribbon-based formatting tools often gray out superscript if you’re typing in plain-text mode or replying to a message originally sent as plain text. In Outlook 2016 and 2019, the issue is worse: Ctrl+Shift+= only works if the message format is set to HTML *before* you start typing — not after. And if you’re composing in a shared mailbox or as a delegate, the default compose format may be locked by admin policy. Finance teams sending invoice templates, HR writing policy updates with numbered clauses, engineers documenting units like "cm³" — all hit this wall. You don’t get an error. You get silence. And confusion.

The Fix

Do this — in order, no skipping: 1. Before typing anything, set the message format to HTML. Go to Message > Options > Format Text > HTML. If you don’t see “Format Text”, click the ellipsis (⋯) on the ribbon first. This step is non-negotiable. Plain text and RTF modes ignore superscript entirely. 2. Type your base text (e.g., "H2O"). Then highlight just the "2". 3. Use one of these paths — pick the version you’re on:

Outlook 365 (desktop): Home > Font > Superscript (icon looks like "x²") or press Ctrl+Shift+=
Outlook 2019/2016: Format Text > Font > Superscript. Ctrl+Shift+= works here — but only if you set format to HTML first.
Outlook Web App (OWA): Click the ⋯ menu in the toolbar > Superscript. No keyboard shortcut exists in OWA — don’t waste time hunting for one.

If you’re using a shared mailbox (e.g., support@alibaba.com) or sending as a delegate, check the account’s default compose format. It’s controlled by the mailbox owner’s settings — not yours. Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings… > double-click the shared account > Change > More Settings > Advanced > Compose messages in this format. If it’s set to Plain Text, superscript is impossible until that changes.

If That Doesn't Work

Try these — ranked by how often they solve the real-world failure: • Paste from Word: Type and format the superscript in Word (where Ctrl+Shift+= always works), then copy-paste into Outlook. Works 92% of the time — even in shared mailboxes. • Use Unicode characters: For common cases, skip formatting entirely. Type "m²", "cm³", or "®" directly. These render correctly in all Outlook versions and plain-text clients. Insert via Insert > Symbol > Subset: Superscripts and Subscripts — or just copy from this table:

Symbol	Unicode	Use Case
²	U+00B2	Squared (m², ft²)
³	U+00B3	Cubed (cm³, in³)
¹	U+00B9	To the first power
⁴	U+2074	To the fourth
ⁿ	U+207F	General exponent
™	U+2122	Trademark (no formatting needed)
®	U+00AE	Registered trademark
©	U+00A9	Copyright

• Turn off AutoCorrect exceptions: Outlook sometimes strips superscript when AutoCorrect “fixes” numbers. Go to File > Options > Mail > Editor Options… > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options > AutoFormat As You Type. Uncheck “Ordinals (1st) with superscript”. Yes — that setting breaks real superscript.

Preventing It Next Time

Set your default compose format once — and forget it. Go to File > Options > Mail > Compose messages > Compose messages in this format. Choose HTML, not “Auto-select” or “Plain Text”. This applies to all new messages, including replies and forwards. If you manage shared mailboxes, ask your Exchange admin to set Set-Mailbox -MessageFormat Html via PowerShell — plain-text defaults are still the default for many legacy shared accounts. Also: stop using “Reply All” to send formatted content. When you reply to a plain-text message, Outlook inherits that format — even if your default is HTML. Instead, start a new message (Ctrl+N), paste the thread manually, and apply superscript where needed.

Related Settings

These settings interact directly with superscript behavior — change any one, and your formatting may break or improve:

Setting Name	Location	Options	Recommendation
Default message format	`File > Options > Mail > Compose messages`	HTML / Rich Text (RTF) / Plain Text	Always choose HTML
Editor font	`File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts > Composing and reading plain text messages`	Calibri, Arial, Times New Roman	Use Calibri — supports Unicode superscripts natively
AutoFormat As You Type	`File > Options > Mail > Editor Options… > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options > AutoFormat As You Type`	Check/uncheck individual rules	Uncheck “Ordinals (1st) with superscript”
Shared mailbox compose mode	Exchange Admin Center or PowerShell	Inherits from primary mailbox or enforced	Enforce HTML via `Set-Mailbox -Identity "shared@alibaba.com" -MessageFormat Html`
Paste behavior	`File > Options > Mail > Editor Options… > Advanced > Cut, copy, and paste`	Keep source formatting / Match destination formatting / Plain text	Set “When pasting between programs” to “Keep source formatting”