In the Microsoft Word shortcut convention used for this 2022 exam question,…

Concept

Character-formatting commands change the position, size, or case of selected text. A keyboard shortcut invokes one particular command, and modifier keys such as Shift distinguish shortcuts that share a base key.

Subscript lowers characters below the baseline, superscript raises them, Font Size changes point height, and All Caps changes letter case.

Application

For the Microsoft Word shortcut set documented at the time of this 2022 exam question, Ctrl + = toggles subscript formatting. Ctrl + Shift + + toggles superscript; on a standard keyboard, the plus sign is produced with Shift + =.

Contrast

• Font Size changes the point height of selected text.

• Superscript raises selected characters above the baseline.

• All Caps displays selected letters as uppercase.

• Subscript lowers selected characters below the baseline, as in H2O.

Cross-check

In the legacy set, select the 2 in H2O and press Ctrl + =: Word places the character below the baseline, and pressing the shortcut again restores normal text. Microsoft’s Word team announced the new zoom shortcuts on 9 March 2023 for Beta Channel Windows version 16.0.15831.20174 or later; that change reassigned Subscript to Ctrl + Shift + -. Because this question is anchored to 2022, before that change, the result is Subscript.