# How to remove parenthesis in an equation number created by \tag?

This is probably simple, but I can't figure it out. How can I remove the parentheses around a \tag in an align equation? I would like the second line (and only that) to contain [2] instead of ([2]). A workaround would be to give it no label, to see the label [2] as part of the equation, and move it to the right text margin by hand. But how? \hfill does not insert space here.

\documentclass{scrartcl}

\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage[american,ngerman]{babel}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\begin{document}
\begin{align}
a &= b \\
c &= d \tag{[2]}
\end{align}
\end{document}

• Use \tag*, see p. 3 of amsmath documentation. Jun 20 '12 at 11:27
• Ahh... I even used that before some time ago... Thanks, egreg! Jun 20 '12 at 11:31
• @egreg: I made a CW anser so Marius can accept it an this question won’t stay unanswered. Hope you don’t mind :-)
– Tobi
Jun 20 '12 at 11:38

As egreg said, use the starred version \tag* which is the same as \tag except that it does not automatically enclose the tag in parentheses.
\documentclass{article}
$$a + b = c \tag*{[2]}$$

• Does not work. TeX capacity exceeded, sorry [grouping levels=255]. \end{equation*} Works fine with normal \tag. But not \tag*{\eqref{eqlabel}} Feb 1 at 16:10