Chapter 8 - Superscripts and Subscripts
| Verbose | Brief | Super-Brief | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level Indicators | |||
| Base Line | Baseline | Base | Base |
| Superscript | Superscript | Sup (pronounced "soup") | Sup (pronounced "soup") |
| Superscript with Superscript | Super Superscript | Sup Sup | Sup Sup |
| Superscript with Subscript | Super Subscript | Sup Sub | Sup Sub |
| Subscript | Subscript | Sub | Sub |
| Subscript with Superscript | Sub Superscript | Sub Sup | Sub Sup |
| Subscript with Subscript | Sub Subscript | Sub Sub | Sub Sub |
Rule 8.1 - ID: scripts_QCK1
Applies To
Exponents that are 2 or 3
Description
Exponents that are 2 or 3 are interpreted as "squared" and "cubed" respectively. If possible, this rule should not be used when superscripts are used for purposes other than exponents, such as footnotes.
Example 1scripts_QCK1-04

|
verbose |
x cubed plus 6 x squared minus x equals 30 |
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|
brief |
x cubed plus 6 x squared minus x equals 30 |
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|
superbrief |
x cubed plus 6 x squared minus x equals 30 |
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Example 2scripts_QCK1-05

Comment on example 2
Rule 8.2 - ID: scripts_SIM1
Description
The indicators for superscript and subscript indicates a raised or lowered script level when used from the base level.
Comment on rule 8.2
Rule 8.3 - ID: scripts_CPLX1
Description
The initiated script level is continued until a new level is stated.
Example 1scripts_CPLX1-02

|
verbose |
Upper
T Subscript
n minus 1 Baseline
plus 5 equals 0 |
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|
brief |
Upper
T Sub
n minus 1 Base
plus 5 equals 0 |
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|
superbrief |
Upper
T Sub
n minus 1 Base
plus 5 equals 0 |
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Example 2scripts_CPLX1-03

Comment on example 2
Rule 8.4 - ID: scripts_CPLX2
Description
The script level indicators always indicate the absolute position to the baseline.
Example 1scripts_CPLX2-21

Comment on example 1
Example 2scripts_CPLX2-05

Comment on example 2
Example 5scripts_CPLX2-22

|
verbose |
x Superscript
a Super Subscript
n Superscript
plus a Super Subscript
n minus 1 |
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|
brief |
x Sup
a Sup Sub
n Sup
plus a Sup Sub
n minus 1 |
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|
superbrief |
x Sup
a Sup Sub
n Sup
plus a Sup Sub
n minus 1 |
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Example 6scripts_CPLX2-06

|
verbose |
y Superscript
a Super Super Subscript
c Super Superscript
b |
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|
brief |
y Sup
a Sup Sup Sub
c Sup Sup
b |
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|
superbrief |
y Sup
a Sup Sup Sub
c Sup Sup
b |
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Rule 8.5 - ID: scripts_NSUB1
Conditions
The number must contain only digits, commas, and a decimal point and no part of it may be spelled out. It must be a subscript to a letter.
Description
Numeric subscripts do not indicate their lowered script and the current script does not need to be reinstated.
Example 4scripts_NSUB1-21

Comment on example 4
Example 6scripts_NSUB1-05

|
verbose |
Upper
T Subscript
n 1 plus n 0 |
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|
brief |
Upper
T Sub
n 1 plus n 0 |
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|
superbrief |
Upper
T Sub
n 1 plus n 0 |
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Example 7scripts_NSUB1-20

Comment on example 7
Example 8scripts_NSUB1-12

Note: This example should actually say "l n space x" to make it clear that there is a space between the natural logarithm and the x.
Comment on example 8Rule 8.6 - ID: scripts_NSUB2
Description
Numbers that appear after letters need to indicate they are not subscripts.
Example 1scripts_NSUB2-20

Comment on example 1
Rule 8.7 - ID: scripts_NSUB3
Description
The numeric subscripts rules can be ignored if the reader is alerted to this in a transcriber's note. This can be helpful for rendering programming languages.
Rule 8.8 - ID: scripts_ORD1
Applies To
Simultaneous Script Levels
Description
For simultaneous script levels, the subscript(s) are stated before the superscript(s).
Example 1scripts_ORD1-02

|
verbose |
Subscript
c d Superscript
a b Baseline
x Subscript
e f Superscript
g h |
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|
brief |
Sub
c d Sup
a b Base
x Sub
e f Sup
g h |
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|
superbrief |
Sub
c d Sup
a b Base
x Sub
e f Sup
g h |
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Example 2scripts_ORD1-01

|
verbose |
Upper
T Subscript
n minus 1 Superscript
2 |
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|
brief |
Upper
T Sub
n minus 1 Sup
2 |
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|
superbrief |
Upper
T Sub
n minus 1 Sup
2 |
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Rule 8.9 - ID: scripts_PRI1
Applies To
Primes
Description
Primes (single, double, or triple) have an implied relative superscript level.
Example 1scripts_PRI1-02

Comment on example 1
Rule 8.10 - ID: scripts_ORD2
Applies To
Primes
Description
Primes that apply directly to an expression are stated before subscripts.
Example 1scripts_ORD2-15

Comment on example 1
Rule 8.11 - ID: scripts_CELL1
Description
The baseline does not need to be stated at the end of a cell in a matrix or determinate.
Example 1scripts_CELL1-10

Comment on example 1
Rule 8.12 - ID: scripts_STAG1
Description
When an expression has a superscript and a subscript, but one occurs before the other, then the one that comes first is stated first and the baseline indicator is stated between them.
Comment on rule 8.12
Rule 8.13 - ID: scripts_CON1
Description
Two consecutive superscripts or subscripts that apply to different expressions must restate the script level.
Example 1scripts_CON1-06

|
verbose |
log Superscript
4 Superscript
b Baseline
x |
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|
brief |
log Sup
4 Sup
b Base
x |
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|
superbrief |
log Sup
4 Sup
b Base
x |
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Example 2scripts_CON1-05

|
verbose |
Upper
T Subscript
n Subscript
a Baseline
y |
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|
brief |
Upper
T Sub
n Sub
a Base
y |
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|
superbrief |
Upper
T Sub
n Sub
a Base
y |
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Rule 8.14 - ID: scripts_NEG1
Applies To
Minus signs that appear as a superscript before the modified expression
Description
Minus signs that are used as a negative sign and are slightly raised are interpreted as a negative sign without any script level indicators.



















