extra line when numbering aligned equations

When using align with a label the equation number appears on a new line when the equation is too long to fit the number. However, when numbering the last of several lines and some of the lines are long, the number takes up a new line even where there is plenty of room on the last line, which is the only one being numbered. Is there a way to force the number not to appear on a new line?

Reasonably minimal example which shows the problem:

\documentclass[11pt, oneside]{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}

short equations - no new line

\begin{align} \label{upre1}
&************************ \cr
& ************************
\end{align}

Top equation long - get extra line even though number would fit on bottom line

\begin{align} \label{upre}
&*********************************************** \cr
& ************************
\end{align}

\end{document}

• could you possibly add a fully compilable MWE? – Raaja Aug 17 '18 at 8:50
• \cr? Would you try with \\ for ending lines in align? Anyhow, I might guess what \tens and \ev mean, but \newprime and \extd baffle me. Please, make a full compilable example. – egreg Aug 17 '18 at 8:52
• using \\ gives all lines a number (would make things worse in this case). using \cr only numbers the last line. I have tried to give a working example now. – Edwin Beggs Aug 17 '18 at 9:01
• @EdwinBeggs Are you aware of split? – egreg Aug 17 '18 at 9:02
• no, i have not used split – Edwin Beggs Aug 17 '18 at 9:04

I'm not sure what makes you thing that \cr is for avoiding to number a line. Use \nonumber \\ instead

\documentclass[11pt, oneside]{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}

Short equations --- no new line
\begin{align} \label{upre1}
&************************ \nonumber \\
& ************************
\end{align}

Top equation long --- get extra line even though number would fit on bottom line
\begin{align}
&******************************************** \nonumber \\
& ************************ \label{upre}
\end{align}

\end{document}


Note that the \label should go in the numbered line.

• could you also tell what is the purpose for \cr and where to (correctly) use it? – Raaja Aug 17 '18 at 9:31
• @Raaja \cr is a primitive and nobody is supposed to use it in the body of a document. – egreg Aug 17 '18 at 9:32