Looking to type Mʲʲᵉ or 3ʳᵈ but can’t find a button for superscript on your keyboard? Copying and pasting works once in while, but quickly turns into a hassle. Find out here how to insert superscript letters on Linux ⤓ using Unicode or word processing software.
First, an Odorous Pickup
Coffee’s scent is famously fleeting the moment you open a package.
Coffee grounds are not just fabulous at spreading fragrance, though — they’re also good at absorbing it. Thanks to a large surface area (especially when carbonized) and a structure rich in nitrogen, coffee grounds can adsorb foul-smelling sulfur like a sponge. So, there might be good reason to “forget” old coffee in the fridge…
In any event, while coffee keeps picking up fridge odors, what if you want to pick up letters and lift them just a bit higher than the rest? (Yes, a cup of coffee might help with that, too.)
How to Insert Superscript Letters (ᵃᵇᶜ) on Linux
Using a Character Picker
Time needed: 2 minutes
To find and input superscript letters on Linux using character picking apps:
- Open Gnome Characters or KDE KCharSelect.
- Search for
modifier letter.Here’s why: Superscript letters (both lower- and uppercase) appear as modifying letters in Unicode,
Missing: Unicode includes not letters for superscript uppercase C, F, X, Y and Z as well as upper and lowercase Q. - Select and copy the desired superscripted character for pasting where desired.
Their word: Gnome include information on inserting special characters in Gnome help.
Letters aflᴼᵃᵗ?
Tips help fuel these email and tech how-tos.
Producing Superscript Letters Using the “Compose” Key
To insert a superscripted letter using the “Compose” key on Linux:
- Define and turn on the “Compose” key for your system.
- Position the text cursor where you want to insert the character.
- Press Compose.
- Type
^_(Shift 6 [circumflex] followed by _ [underscore]). - Now add the key for the desired letter:
H — superscript lowercase h
J — superscript lowercase j
L — superscript lowercase l
R — superscript lowercase r
S — superscript lowercase s
W — superscript lowercase w
Y — superscript lowercase y
X — superscript lowercase x
Missing: For all letters not in the list above, use a different input method for inserting their superscripted version.
A superscript number: How to Insert the Squared Sign ( ² ) on Linux
Superscripting Letters in Linux Word Processors
Abiword
To make characters superscript letters in Abiword:
- Highlight the character or characters.
- Select Format | Text Formatting | Superscript from the menu.
Calligra Words
To render any character superscripted in Calligra Words:
- Highlight the character.
- Turn on Superscript in the Text editing sidebar.
Keyboard shortcut: You can also press Ctrl Shift P to superscript highlighted characters.
Libreoffice Writer
To turn any character into a superscript using Libreoffice Writer:
- Highlight the letter or character in your document.
- Select Format | Text | Superscript from the menu.
Keyboard shortcut: The shortcut to toggle the superscript attribute is Ctrl Shift P.
How to Make Superscript Characters in MS Word Online
How to Insert Superscript Characters in Apple Pages
How to Insert Superscript Characters in Google Docs
How to Use Superscript Characters in LaTeX
Using Unicode Code Points to Insert Superscript Letters on Linux
To insert superscripted Unicode characters using their Unicode code points on Linux:
- Put the text cursor where you want to insert the superscripted letter.
- Press Ctrl Shift U.
- Now type the code point for the letter from the table below.
Example: Type02B3for ‘ʳ’. - Now press Enter.
Unicode Code Points for Superscript Letters
Uppercase
| Character | Unicode Code Point |
|---|---|
| ᴬ | 1D2C |
| ᴮ | 1D2E |
| ᴰ | 1D30 |
| ᴱ | 1D31 |
| ᴳ | 1D33 |
| ᴴ | 1D34 |
| ᴵ | 1D35 |
| ᴶ | 1D36 |
| ᴷ | 1D37 |
| ᴸ | 1D38 |
| ᴹ | 1D39 |
| ᴺ | 1D3A |
| ᴼ | 1D3C |
| ᴾ | 1D3E |
| ᴿ | 1D3F |
| ᵀ | 1D40 |
| ᵁ | 1D41 |
| ⱽ | 2C7D |
| ᵂ | 1D42 |
Lowercase
| Character | Unicode Code Point |
|---|---|
| ᵃ | 1D43 |
| ᵇ | 1D47 |
| ᶜ | 1D9C |
| ᵈ | 1D48 |
| ᵉ | 1D49 |
| ᶠ | 1DA0 |
| ᵍ | 1D4D |
| ʰ | 02B0 |
| ⁱ | 2071 |
| ʲ | 02B2 |
| ᵏ | 1D4F |
| ˡ | 02E1 |
| ᵐ | 1D50 |
| ⁿ | 207F |
| ᵒ | 1D52 |
| ᵖ | 1D56 |
| ʳ | 02B3 |
| ˢ | 02E2 |
| ᵗ | 1D57 |
| ᵘ | 1D58 |
| ᵛ | 1D5B |
| ʷ | 02B7 |
| ˣ | 02E3 |
| ʸ | 02B8 |
| ᶻ | 1DBB |
Copy/paste: Copy and Paste Superscript Letters
How to Insert Superscript Letters (ᵃᵇᶜ) on Linux: FAQ
What can I use as substitutes for the missing superscript letters?
If you need to use a superscripted letter that does not existing as a unique Unicode character, you can either turn to small regular letters, provided the writing environment allows for it:
- Insert the letter as a regular character.
- Highlight the character just input.
- Reduce the font size just for the character.
Here’s how much: Make the superscripted letter around 60–70% the size of a regular character to make it.bot legible and allow for enough room to distinctly raise the character. - Now offset the character up from the baseline.
Here’s how much: Raise the letter around 50% of the x-height; do go by your eye, of course, as the precise points that look appropriate vary with typeface.
How can I raise a character in CSS?
In HTML and CSS, you can use the following code to generate a superscript character:
<span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: 0.55em;"></span>Here’s what this does: This reduces the size of the raised character to 60% its regular size and raises it to about half the line height.
Example: Q<span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: 0.55em;">q</span> will display as Qq.
(Tested with Gnome 48–49 and KDE Plasma 6; first published August 2025, last updated February 2026)