Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated June 4, 2022)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365
Yossi has some text that uses superscripts. He can bookmark that text, but if he creates a cross-reference to that bookmarked text, the cross-reference shows the text without the superscript. (The superscript is there; it just shows as regular, unsuperscripted text.) The MERGEFORMAT and CHARFORMAT switches don't solve the issue.
In this case, you wouldn't want to use either the MERGEFORMAT or CHARFORMAT switches in the cross-reference field. These switches are used to help the field results maintain any formatting that you manually applied to the result. In other words, they have nothing to do with the formatting of your original bookmarked text, which included superscripting.
The solution is to minimize what is in the REF field. Here is an example of the field code that Word would normally insert when you add the cross-reference:
{ REF MyBookmark \h \* MERGEFORMAT }
In order to see your superscripts, you need to remove the MERGEFORMAT switch, like this:
{ REF MyBookmark \h }
With this change in place, update the field and you should see the superscript appear. However, you should understand that removing the switch may also result in any other character formatting in your original (bookmarked) text being carried over to the cross-reference. If this produces a result that disrupts the appearance of your text, the solution is to put the MERGEFORMAT switch back in and, instead, manually format the cross-reference to include the superscript.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (12895) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365.
Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2021 or Microsoft 365. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word Step by Step today!
Do you need to select a field? It is as simple as selecting a single character, as this tip explains.
Discover MoreFields provide a great way to add dynamic content to your documents. If you don't want those fields to update when you ...
Discover MoreWant a quick way to create fractions? You can do it by using fields, as described in this tip.
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2022-06-06 07:35:25
Cherith Harrison
What a coincidence. I just encountered this issue for the first time in my (ahem) long career last week and was puzzled (and frustrated) by the superscript removal. , I just manually applied the superscript - now I know!
Thank you!
Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments