CODEWITHSUNDEEP
r
digitalmaps
digitalmaps

Reputation: 2905

Use superscripts in R axis labels

Using base graphics in R, how can I add superscripts to axis labels, as one might want to when plotting latitude and longitude axes on a map.

Consider this example:

plot(-100:-50, 50:100, type="n", xlab="", ylab="", axes=FALSE)
axis(1, seq(-100, -50, 10), labels=paste(abs(seq(-100, -50, 10)), "o", "W", sep=""))
axis(2, seq(50, 100, 10), labels=paste(seq(50,100,10), "o", "N", sep=""))
box()

Produces a nice frame around a map. It would be even nicer to make the degree symbol superscript.

This can usually be done in other plotting functions such as mtext() and text() using expression(paste(...)) or substitute() but how to do it in this case?

Upvotes: 55

Views: 149395

Answers (4)

R Ramsay
R Ramsay

Reputation: 130

@The Thunder Chimp You can split text in such a way that some sections are affected by super(or sub) script and others aren't through the use of *. For your example, with splitting the word "moment" from "4th" - 

plot(rnorm(30), xlab = expression('4'^th*'moment'))

Upvotes: 4

Stewart Macdonald
Stewart Macdonald

Reputation: 2132

The other option in this particular case would be to type the degree symbol: ˚

R seems to handle it fine. Type Option-k on a Mac to get it. Not sure about other platforms.

Upvotes: 3

Alex
Alex

Reputation: 4180

This is a quick example 

plot(rnorm(30), xlab = expression(paste("4"^"th")))

Upvotes: 44

mathematical.coffee
mathematical.coffee

Reputation: 56905

It works the same way for axes: parse(text='70^o*N') will raise the o as a superscript (the *N is to make sure the N doesn't get raised too).

labelsX=parse(text=paste(abs(seq(-100, -50, 10)), "^o ", "*W", sep=""))
labelsY=parse(text=paste(seq(50,100,10), "^o ", "*N", sep=""))
plot(-100:-50, 50:100, type="n", xlab="", ylab="", axes=FALSE)
axis(1, seq(-100, -50, 10), labels=labelsX)
axis(2, seq(50, 100, 10), labels=labelsY)
box()

Upvotes: 49

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