# Is appending superscripts possible?

Let's say I want to write N^{eT}, but have N^e as a predefined command \Ne. Thus, I want to append the character T to the superscript of \Ne. Is this possible?

(Note that I don't want to write {\Ne}^T, since that will result in the T being one level above the e. This was adressed in Trick LaTeX into doing double superscripts by the way)

• It may help to explain how you intend to use the macro. Something along the lines of \def\Ne#1{$N^{e#1}$} is acceptable in your case? (usage: \Ne T) Apr 19, 2012 at 14:46
• What about using $\Ne{}^T$ (maybe putting it into a box to prevent a break between e and T)? Apr 19, 2012 at 18:08
• Haha, I actually didn't know that was possible, Stephen. Thanks! Apr 19, 2012 at 19:54
• Similar question has been answered some time ago: tex.stackexchange.com/questions/33261/… Apr 19, 2012 at 20:45

Or what about an empty optional argument?

\newcommand*\Ne[1][]{N^{e#1}}


Which you can use

$\Ne$ or $\Ne[T]$

• Accepted for conciseness. Thanks to all responders! Apr 19, 2012 at 15:18
• By the way, what does the asterisk after "\newcommand" do? Apr 19, 2012 at 15:45
– Werner
Apr 19, 2012 at 16:12
• @andreasdr: A more detailed explanation of \newcommand* can be found at tex.stackexchange.com/questions/1050/…
– Jake
Apr 24, 2012 at 10:40

Here is a "clever hack" inspired by (read: shamelessly copied from) the definition of math prime:

\documentclass{article}

\makeatletter
\def\Ne{N^\bgroup\e@s}
\def\e@s{%
e\futurelet\@let@token\e@@s}
\def\e@@s{%
\ifx^\@let@token
\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\e@@@s
\else
\egroup
\fi}
\def\e@@@s#1#2{#2\egroup}
\makeatother

\begin{document}
$\Ne^T \Ne^T_5$
\end{document}


You can do \Ne^{}_{} but not \Ne_{}^{}, otherwise the positioning is exactly as N^{}_{}

I would define \Ne in the following way:

\newcommand{\Ne}{\ensuremath{N^e\vphantom{N}}}


This ensures that any following superscripts start at the same height as regular superscripts to N, but also trick TeX in thinking that it's not doubling a superscript:

\documentclass{article}
\newcommand{\Ne}{\ensuremath{N^e\vphantom{N}}}
\begin{document}
\Ne\ $\Ne^T$\ $N^{eT}$
\end{document}


Note that this will not work properly for subscripts, since the placement will be off. It would require more effort to make that work.