Use superscripts in R axis labels
RR Problem Overview
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?
R Solutions
Solution 1 - R
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()
Solution 2 - R
This is a quick example
plot(rnorm(30), xlab = expression(paste("4"^"th")))
Solution 3 - R
@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'))
Solution 4 - R
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.