In MS-Office word short cut key 'Ctrl' + '=' ('Control' and '=' key pressed together) is used to _______ .

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is (1):
The correct option is Create Sub-Script. In Microsoft Word, a subscript is a character or string that is set slightly below the baseline of the text. This formatting is essential for technical and scientific writing, most notably in chemical formulas, such as writing H₂O, or for mathematical notations like variables in a sequence ($a\_n$). The keyboard shortcut Ctrl + = (Control key and the Equal Sign pressed simultaneously) acts as a universal toggle in MS Office applications like Word and PowerPoint to efficiently apply or remove the subscript effect to the selected text. Knowing these shortcuts is vital for saving time when creating documents with complex, specialized notations.

The incorrect option is (2):
The keyboard shortcut for Create Super-Script is actually **Ctrl + Shift + =** (Control, Shift, and the Equal Sign/Plus key pressed together). Superscript is a formatting style where text is raised slightly above the baseline and is used primarily for exponents (like $x^2$) or for footnote reference marks. Since the question specifies only **Ctrl + =**, which omits the Shift key, the command triggers the subscript function, making this option incorrect.

The incorrect option is (3):
The shortcut key used to Show Hidden Marks (or non-printing characters) is typically \*\*Ctrl + \*\*\* (Control and the Asterisk key, which often requires pressing Ctrl + Shift + 8). This feature toggles the visibility of layout elements like paragraph marks, space characters, and tab characters, which is a document view and troubleshooting utility. The shortcut **Ctrl + =** is an application of text formatting to the selected characters and has no relation to viewing document structure.

The incorrect option is (4):
The common keyboard shortcut to **Increase Indent** for a paragraph in Microsoft Word is **Ctrl + M**. This is a paragraph formatting command that affects the margin of the entire paragraph block. In contrast, the **Ctrl + =** shortcut is a character-level formatting command, affecting only the selected letters or numbers to make them a subscript. Therefore, the functions are entirely different within the word processor's command structure.