In my mathematics writing, I often use both superscripts and subscripts on the probability operator. The subscripts are generally lengthy, and I would like for them to appear underneath the operator, which is the default behavior in displaystyle. The superscripts are often just a single number, and I would like them to appear as a superscript (not above the operator), which is the default behavior in textstyle. If I write something like
$$\Pr_{long subscript}\textstyle{^2}$$
I get the behavior I want, but the superscript 2 appears very far to the right because the subscript is so long. If I write instead
$$\Pr\textstyle{^2}_{long subscript}$$
the superscript looks fine, but the long subscript displays as a textstyle subscript (not underneath the operator as I would like).
How can I get the long subscript to display underneath the operator and the superscript to display as a textstyle superscript immediately next to the operator?
Best Answer
Here is an option:
Both 1 & 2 are incorrect for a number of reasons. Not only is the positioning of the superscript incorrect (too far right), but the subscript (which is text) is not set as such. While 2 "corrects" the superscript, the use of
\textstyle
is incorrect.\textstyle
is a switch, not a macro that takes an argument. As such, what follows\textstyle
will be set in\textstyle
until the end of the group.The problematic output of option 3 is the placement of the superscript (on top of the operator), even though the subscript output has been properly set as text (thanks to
amsmath
's\text
). Output for 4 uses\mathop
as a momentary operator definition, setting the text underneath. The superscript is prevented from being set on top by not placing the any scripting immediately after it. Instead,{}
acts as the base for the superscript.Option 5, with
\nolimits
removes the additional operator spacing.