Writing a limit so that the subscript goes directly underneath

Question

When I write $\lim_{x \rightarrow p} f(x) = q$, the subscript x \rightarrow p appears to the right of the limit, instead of directly underneath it.

When I try $\displaystyle \lim_{x \rightarrow p} f(x) = q$, the subscript of the limit takes up extra space, making the line taller than usual and creating an awkward extra space underneath everything else...

Is there a way to write limits in-line with the subscript underneath, and everything squished to the normal height of the line its in?

Answer 1

One way would be to use \scalebox from the graphicx package to rescale the version obtained by \displaystyle. Here is a comparison of the usual inline version of \lim and the scaled version:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{xcolor}
\usepackage{graphicx}

\newcommand{\Text}{\noindent Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.  
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. 
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet }

\newcommand{\Lim}[1]{\raisebox{0.5ex}{\scalebox{0.8}{$\displaystyle \lim_{#1}\;$}}}

\usepackage{graphicx}
\begin{document}
\Text 
$\textcolor{blue}{\lim_{x \rightarrow p} f(x) = q}$
\Text
$\textcolor{red}{\Lim{x \rightarrow p} f(x) = q}$
\Text 
\end{document}

Answer 2

I'm not sure if this is squished enough for you but the amsmath package allows you to put something under something else through the \underset command:

\documentclass[11pt]{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\pagestyle{empty}
\begin{document}
$\underset{x \to \infty}{\lim}$
\end{document}