E=mc cubed
Mac Tip #272/06-Dec-2006

After the Tips about Find and Replace a reader asked how to find and replace the term m², where the 2 is superscript (or raised up a bit and is a bit smaller, and it means ‘squared’). What an interesting question!

If you use a program such as Microsoft Word, you type this kind of expression by simply typing m2, then selecting the 2 and choosing Format > Font > Superscript (or a shortcut such as Command Shift =, to achieve the same end result). If you need to type something like H₂O for water you’d select the 2 and choose subscript, which lowers the character and makes it a bit smaller.

It’s easy to find and replace a superscripted (or subscripted) character: open the Find and Replace dialog box, enter the 2 in the Find what text box, enter the replacement (eg 3) in the Replace with box and then click the downward pointing arrow on the bottom line.

Click in the Find what text box, then click on the Format pop-up, click on Font… and check the Superscript (or Subscript) checkbox.

Now choose Replace All. Word replaces all superscripted 2s with superscripted 3s.

However, that wasn’t quite the question my reader had. My reader wanted a normal m together with a superscripted 2.

I did a fair bit of searching and came up empty, I’m afraid. It seems that the Find and Replace is all or nothing. For example, I italicised part of the word superscript. I could replace the entire word if it was in a regular style or the entire word in italics, but not a mixture of regular and italics.

By the way: if you’ve previously searched for formatted text, remember to click the No Formatting button next time you want to search for unformatted text.

Next week: End of year round-up.