# Is there a way to change how latex formats parenthesis in superscript?

I am new here an hereby apologize for any mistakes I might make in posting this. I am also sorry if a similar topic already exists, but I failed to find anything answering this.

I am interested whether you can "force" latex to vertically center parenthesis on the whole object within rather than on the first element. I think the following example gives a better explanation.

I want to write something like (I have added a couple of exponents extra to highlight the issue):

Note that $a^{b{^{c^{d^e}}}}$ abbreviates
$a^{\left(b^{\left(c^{\left(d^e\right)}\right)}\right)}$


And I don't like the fact that the parenthesis center on the first thing so the letter $b$ instead of the whole object within the parenthesis.

Similar things happens with parenthesis and subscripts and fractions which go "too much" in upwards or downwards direction. (i.e. \frac{\frac{\frac{}{}}{}}{}}).

I would really appreciate any help as this looks really bad to me and I have no clue where to find a solution for this.

• it does not centre on the b it centres on the math axis Dec 18 '15 at 14:52
• Welcome to TeX - LaTeX! I have added an image of the output generated by your code Dec 18 '15 at 15:09
• just remove the \left and \right and close your eyes to the fact that some of the parenthesized superscripts extend above the outer one. Dec 18 '15 at 16:38

\documentclass{article}
Note that $a^{b{^{c^{d^e}}}}$ abbreviates
$a^{(b^{(c^{(d^{e)^{)^{)}}}}}}$