# Shift Limits on a Sum in Math Mode to Look Like In-Line

I have a simple question, but I'm having trouble figuring it out. I'm trying to make the limits on a sum in math-mode appear as they do on the right hand side below.

I know that in-line displays the limits like on the right hand side by default, but writing \textstyle before the sum in math mode of course makes the sum symbol smaller, much unlike the equations around it.

I did find a way to take the index variable out from underneath and put it near the bottom left. I have so far

\documentclass[12pt]{article}
\begin{document}

$$\sum_{n=1}^\infty = \mathop{}_{\mkern+5mu n}\!\sum_1^\infty$$

\end{document}


Which looks like

Now the limits just have to move beside the sum and be brought slightly closer together. I thought of using \sum\ _1^\infty, which might technically work if the height of the blank vertical was higher (How could you make it higher as an aside?)(I'm new to LaTeX), but perhaps it would not look as nice as other ways that exist.

Question

How could the limits on the sum be brought from where they are in math-mode to where they would be with in-line, but preserving the size of the sum symbol as it is in math-mode?

Quick Secondary Question

Can you increase the height of the blank vertical, \ (with a space after the backslash)?

• \sum\nolimits is the answer to your titular question but I'm not sure what's going on with the n to the left and the 1 to the right – Au101 Jul 1 '18 at 2:27
• @Au101 I'll try that out, thank you. Usually this is how I would handwrite a sum in notebooks with the n to the left and 1 to the right to avoid crossing over the lines. It's just a notation I use. – AEngineer Jul 1 '18 at 2:31
• Use \sideset from the amsmath package? $\sideset{_n}{}\sum\nolimits_1^\infty$. However, as you pointed out yourself, this is not a standard notation and I would suggest avoid using it. – Ruixi Zhang Jul 1 '18 at 3:52

Add the left subscript as the subscript of a phantom sum. Some spacing needs to be fixed, though:

1. the phantom sum is inside \mathop to ensure correct spacing with the preceding part of the formula;
2. the subscript would add \scriptspace, so we remove it;
3. the thin space between two consecutive \mathop atoms has to be removed as well.

The code:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\newcommand{\skipsum}[1]{%
\mathop{{\vphantom{\sum}}_{#1}\kern-\scriptspace}\!\sum\nolimits
}

\begin{document}

$\displaystyle\skipsum{n}_{1}^{\infty}$ % emulate displayed equation

\bigskip

$\skipsum{n}_{1}^{\infty}$

\bigskip

$\scriptstyle\skipsum{n}_{1}^{\infty}$

\bigskip

$\scriptscriptstyle\skipsum{n}_{1}^{\infty}$

\end{document}


## Comment

It's true that the standard notation for summation is a bit ambiguous, because it doesn't explicitly mark the dummy variable, but context is usually helpful. I don't find this notation particularly appealing.