Automatic superscripting in InDesign 2025

[marine.sans.serif]

Hello! Since I've been using InDesign 2025, the software automatically puts numbers in brackets (e.g. (8)) in superscript and I can't figure out how to deactivate it. Clicking on the superscript button doesn't work to change the character back to regular body text. Has anyone encountered the same problem?

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS · Accepted solution]

Is there a GREP style in the paragraph style?

[marine.sans.serif]

No there isn't.

[jmlevy · Accepted solution]

Hi @marine.sans.serif 

No there isn't [GREP styles]

Opening your file shows that there is a GREP style:

[marine.sans.serif]

Hi jmlevy and thanks a lot! I wasn't looking in the right paragraph style... I deleted it, it's all good now!

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Rather than delete it, you might just want to set the character style to "None". 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Hi @marine.sans.serif 

No there isn't [GREP styles]

Opening your file shows that there is a GREP style:

By @jmlevy

Haven't checked it. 

This would explain why TextStyleRanges were not reported correctly. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@marine.sans.serif

Can you post a screenshot - with hidden characters visible? 

[marine.sans.serif]

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Strange...

Can you share a sample file - even just this piece of text.

[marine.sans.serif]

Here is the file. Thanks for taking a look at it!

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

(I've removed extra texts)

Those are extra - "physical" - characters in the text?

Not some dynamically displayed "(", ")".

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Because of this:

I think those are references to something - but not automatic Footnote/Endnote markers?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@marine.sans.serif 

You could use this as a GREP Style in the ParaStyle to highlight all occurences:

\(\d+\-*\d*?\)

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

And looks like there is a bug in InDesign ... the part with the Superscript formatting - isn't reported as a separate TextStyleRange ... only if I'll query it as separate characters - correct information is returned...

Everything is OK - just GREP Styles are not reported / included when TSRs are queried. 

[marine.sans.serif]

The series of digits is the reference to the text that precedes it; it's not an automaticFootnote/Endnote markers command, it's been entered manually as body text.
In fact, I haven't done any specific formatting on the numbers in brackets; the exponent format is set automatically when I write a number in brackets.
I've run a few tests of my own and when I open a new document and copy-paste the text, the problem disappears; it seems that the problem lies with the settings in this particular file (which I got from another graphic designer) and not with InDesign. I'm going to check with this designer to see if she's set up an automatic formatting formula somewhere that's causing this.
In the mean time, if you come up with a parameter manipulation that could explain this, please get back to me!

[Colin Flashman]

I'm wondering if it is a feature of the font that's being used. What is the name of the typeface that is being used?

EDIT - I've just tried to replicate the fault by creating the same type in the same font (that I believe to be Nunito medium) but there aren't any opentype features that would superscript numbers and brackets. Numbers, maybe... but it would do all numbers, not just numbers in brackets (this is if "fractions" was checked in the opentype portion of the paragraph style dialog box) but it wouldn't do the brackets as there isn't an alternative glyph for a superscripted pair of brackets.

To the OP - what happens if you copy this text to a new indesign document; or change the paragraph style applied to it? Are you able to export a snippet of this text or save a portion as idml so that we can try and replicate the fault?

[marine.sans.serif]

Thanks for your feedback!
It is indeed the Nunito typeface and indeed when I open a new document and copy-paste the text, the problem disappears; it seems that the problem comes from the settings of this particular file (which I got from another designer) and not from InDesign. I'm going to check with this designer to find out if she's set up an automatic formatting formula somewhere that's causing this. I've looked hard, but I can't find any character formatting that automatically puts numbers in brackets in superscript.
If you can find a parameter manipulation that might explain this, please don't hesitate to get back to me!

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

As I suggested and @jmlevy posted, you DO have a GREP style in your Paragraph style. If you were not sure what a GREP style was, I would have been happy to post more information.