You’re probably asking about those tiny numbers in Word (like for footnotes, powers, or chemical formulas), not doing math with numbers. Here’s how to add those “small numbers” cleanly.

Quick Scoop

To add small numbers in Word (like ¹, ², x², H₂O, or footnote numbers), you use superscript (high) or subscript (low). The fastest options are the Home tab buttons or keyboard shortcuts.

Method 1: Superscript via Home tab (for x², 1st, footnote-like numbers)

Use this when you want the number up high , like exponents or reference numbers.

  1. Place your cursor where you want the small number.
  2. Go to the Home tab.
  3. In the Font group, click the Superscript button (it looks like x²).
  4. Type your number (for example, 1, 2, 3).
  5. Click the Superscript button again to return to normal text.

Example:
Type x, turn on superscript, type 2, turn it off → you get x².

Method 2: Keyboard shortcut for superscript (quick way)

This is much faster once you remember it.

  • Toggle superscript on/off :
    Press Ctrl + Shift + + (Control + Shift + plus key).

Steps:

  1. Type your normal text, e.g. x.
  2. Press Ctrl + Shift + +.
  3. Type the small number (e.g. 2).
  4. Press Ctrl + Shift + + again to go back to normal size.

This works great for things like x², 10³, or ordinal numbers like 1st (with a small “st”).

Method 3: Subscript (for H₂O, CO₂, etc.)

Use this if you want the number down low.

Using the Home tab

  1. Type your text (e.g. H2O).
  2. Select just the character you want small (the 2).
  3. Go to Home → Font group.
  4. Click Subscript (x₂ icon).

Result: H₂O or CO₂.

Keyboard shortcut

  • Toggle subscript on/off :
    Press Ctrl + = (Control + equals key).

Method 4: Using the Symbol dialog (ready‑made small numbers)

If you want special pre‑made small numbers (like the dedicated ¹, ², ³ symbols), you can insert them as symbols.

  1. Place your cursor where you want the small number.
  2. Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols.
  3. At the top, in Subset , choose Superscripts and Subscripts (or scroll until you see small ¹ ² ³ etc.).
  1. Click the number you want, then click Insert.
  2. Close the dialog.

These are handy for fixed things like m² or x³ when you don’t want to use formatting.

Method 5: Automatic small numbers for footnotes

If by “small numbers” you mean footnote numbers at the top of words, use Word’s footnote feature so numbering stays automatic.

  1. Click where the reference number should appear in your text.
  2. Go to the References tab.
  3. Click Insert Footnote.
  4. Word inserts a small superscript number in the text and jumps you to the bottom of the page.
  5. Type your footnote text; Word keeps numbering in order automatically.

This is best for academic papers, reports, or anything with citations.

Tiny tip to avoid mistakes

When you use superscript or subscript, turn it off right after the number (either by clicking the button again or pressing the shortcut a second time). If you don’t, everything you type after will stay small.

If you actually meant “add numbers” (do calculations)

If your real question was about adding numbers together in Word (doing sums) , the usual approaches are:

  • Put numbers in a table and use Layout → Formula to sum a row or column.
  • Or do the calculation in Excel and paste the result into Word.

Word isn’t great as a calculator, so Excel is usually easier for anything more than a tiny sum.

TL;DR:
Use superscript (x²) or Ctrl + Shift + + for small numbers above the line, subscript (x₂) or Ctrl + = for small numbers below, and Insert → Symbol → More Symbols → Superscripts and Subscripts for special tiny characters like ¹ ² ³.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.