displaystylemath-modesuperscripts
I'm trying to write $\sup' S$ — that is to say, $\sup S$ but with a prime on the sup. However, in display style, this comes out instead with the prime on top of the sup instead of in the superscript position. Presumably this is because LaTeX reads it as a superscript, and in display style, superscripts go on top of \sup just as subscripts go below it. How can I actually write sup' S and have it come out right?
Thank you!
Here is an option:
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}% http://ctan.org/pkg/amsmath
\begin{document}
\noindent Wrong:
\[
\Pr_{long subscript}\textstyle{^2}
\]
Wrong:
\[
\Pr\textstyle{^2}_{long subscript}
\]
Problematic:
\[
\Pr^2_{\text{long subscript}}
\]
Feasible:
\[
\mathop{\Pr{}^2}_{\text{long subscript}}
\]
Best:
\[
\mathop{\Pr\nolimits^2}_{\text{long subscript}}
\]
\end{document}
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.
You can use a \mathstrut:
\documentclass{book}
\begin{document}
\[ C{\mathstrut}^{\,\,l_\beta}_{m_\beta}{\mathstrut}^2_0{\mathstrut}^{\,\,l_\alpha}_{m_\alpha} \]
\end{document}
Here is a proposition which may be fine tuned.
\documentclass{book}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
\[C\!%
\begin{smallmatrix}
l_{\beta} & \!\!2 & \!\!l_{\alpha} \\
m_{\beta} & \!\!0 & \!\!m_{\alpha}
\end{smallmatrix}
\]
\end{document}
Best Answer
You can drop in a
\nolimits