Re: super-super-scripts

On Thu, Jul  2, 2026 at 08:51 (+0200), Hans Hagen via ntg-context wrote:

> On 7/2/2026 3:38 AM, Jim Diamond via ntg-context wrote:
>> Hi all,

>> plain TeX typesets the expression
>>          ${x^n}^3$
>> so that the baseline of the 3 is higher than the baseline of the n.

>> ConTeXt typesets the expression
>>          \im{{x^n}^3}
>> so that the baseline of the 3 is the same as the baseline of the n.

>> Is this intentional?

> Of course.

I thought the answer might be something like that.

> \setupbodyfont[pagella]

> \starttext

>      \permanent\protected\def\pow#1#2{\mathord{#1}^{2}}

Subtle "trick" in that definition.  Was that a test for the diligent reader?
:-)

>      \im{x^n^3}

>      \im{(x^n)^3}

>      \im{{\green 21} {\blue +} {\red x^n}^{\darkgray 3}}

>      \im{\mathord{x^n}^{\red 3}}

>      \im{\pow{x^n}{3}}

>      \im{\pow{x+n}{3}}

> \stoptext

> In Context math we want to focus on proper rendering without any need for
> manual intervention (these tiny used enforced spaces) that can mess up
> the result.  We also want to focus on meaning and permits to set
> properties without interferance.  For that reason there are some features
> that we enable by default, like {} being just grouping characters and not
> atom creators.

Fair enough.

> In a similar fashion we have primes as native feature and multiscripts
> and such. Also, a lot is about classes.

> Out big test cases are Mikaels math books and lecture notes and so far we
> have not seen any negative side effects.

> \setupbodyfont[pagella]

> \starttext

>      \permanent\protected\def\pow#1#2{\mathord{#1}^{2}} % think \frac

>      \im{x^n^3}

>      \im{(x^n)^3}

>      \im{{\green 21} {\blue +} {\red x^n}^{\darkgray 3}}

>      \im{\mathord{x^n}^{\red 3}}

>      \im{\pow{x^n}{3}}

>      \im{\pow{x+n}{3}}

> \stoptext

Speaking of fonts, I'm thinking about DejaVu right now.

> Maybe this should be stressed a bit (which you will now do on the wiki.)

:-)  I'll put it in the queue.

>> (And I do know that if I use \im{x^{n^3}} the 3 is higher than the n, but I
>> was wondering about \im{{x^n}^3}.)

> In general for inline math these super-super scripts sit somewhat low so
> they are not that disctinctive.  In the perspective of hot-topic
> hyper-accessibility one can argue for (x^n) so make the super-super script
> stand out more.

> We can have a vote on \pow I guess but I leave that to Mikael and Aditya and
> you as math {\red pow}er users.

Alas, there has been little math in my life recently.

Thanks for the explanation.

                                Jim

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