matplotlib - Superscript in Python plots

Question

I want to label my x axis at follows :

pylab.xlabel('metres 10^1')

But I don't want to have the ^ symbol included .

pylab.xlabel('metres 10$^{one}$')

This method works and will superscript letters but doesn't seem to work for numbers . If I try :

pylab.xlabel('metres 10$^1$')

It superscripts a letter N for some reason .

Anyone know how to superscript numbers in python plots ? thanks .

Answer 1

You just need to have the full expression inside the $. Basically, you need "meters $10^1$". You don't need usetex=True to do this (or most any mathematical formula).

You may also want to use a raw string (e.g. r"\t", vs "\t") to avoid problems with things like \n, \a, \b, \t, \f, etc.

For example:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

fig, ax = plt.subplots()
ax.set(title=r'This is an expression $e^{\sin(\omega\phi)}$',
       xlabel='meters $10^1$', ylabel=r'Hertz $(\frac{1}{s})$')
plt.show()

If you don't want the superscripted text to be in a different font than the rest of the text, use \mathregular (or equivalently \mathdefault). Some symbols won't be available, but most will. This is especially useful for simple superscripts like yours, where you want the expression to blend in with the rest of the text.

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

fig, ax = plt.subplots()
ax.set(title=r'This is an expression $\mathregular{e^{\sin(\omega\phi)}}$',
       xlabel='meters $\mathregular{10^1}$',
       ylabel=r'Hertz $\mathregular{(\frac{1}{s})}$')
plt.show()

For more information (and a general overview of matplotlib's "mathtext"), see: http://matplotlib.org/users/mathtext.html

Answer 2

Alternatively, in python 3.6+, you can generate Unicode superscript and copy paste that in your code:

ax1.set_ylabel('Rate (min⁻¹)')

Answer 3

If you want to write unit per meter (m^-1), use $m^{-1}$), which means -1 inbetween {}

Example: plt.ylabel("Specific Storage Values ($m^{-1}$)", fontsize = 12 )