Superscript and subscript in plain-text notes

Superscript and subscript solve different reading problems. Superscript places a character above the baseline. It is common for exponents, footnote markers, and ordinal indicators. Subscript places a character below the baseline. It is common in chemical formulas and indexed variables.

Choose the representation first

Rich text is best when the destination supports semantic formatting. Plain text needs a different approach. Unicode includes many raised and lowered characters, but it does not provide every letter and symbol. Check the complete text before you publish it.

Keep the meaning visible

For a quick side-by-side reference, use this superscript versus subscript guide. It shows the practical difference and gives copyable examples for plain-text workflows.

When a required character is missing, keep an accessible fallback such as x^2 or H2O. This avoids a decorative character that changes the intended meaning.