Superscript and subscript axis labels in ggplot2 in R

In this article, we will see how to use Superscript and Subscript axis labels in ggplot2 in R Programming Language. 

First we should load ggplot2 package using library() function. To install and load the ggplot2 package, write following command to R Console.

# To Install ggplot2 package 
# (Write this command to R Console)
install.packages("ggplot2")

# Load ggplot2 package
library("ggplot2")

Now, let's create a DataFrame. Here we will create a simple DataFrame with two variables named X & Y then assign it to the data object. Let's named it DF. Here we have generated 10 random values for x and y axis using rnorm() function.

# Load Package
library("ggplot2")

# Create a DataFrame
DF <- data.frame(X = rnorm(10),                        
                 Y = rnorm(10))

To create an R plot, we use ggplot() function and for make it scattered we add geom_point() function to ggplot() function. Here we use some parameters size, fill, color, shape only for better appearance of points on ScatterPlot. For labels at X and Y axis, we use xlab() and ylab() functions respectively.

Syntax:

xlab("Label for X-Axis")

ylab("Label for Y-Axis")

Example:

# Load Package
library("ggplot2")

# Create a DataFrame 
DF <- data.frame(X = rnorm(10),                        
                 Y = rnorm(10))

# Create a ScatterPlot with simple labels
ggplot(DF,aes(X, Y))+
  geom_point(size = 8, fill = "green",
             color = "black", shape = 21)+
  xlab("X-Axis")+
  ylab("Y-Axis")

Output:

Adding Superscript Axis Labels

Now we will change the label of X to " X-Axis^superscript " and Y to " Y-Axis^superscript ". For that bquote() function is used to quote the argument passed to it.

Syntax : bquote(expr)

Parameter :

• expr : language object

bquote() For SuperScript :

bquote(math superscript(^) Notation)

Example:

# Load ggplot2 Package
library("ggplot2")

# Create a DataFrame For Plotting
DF <- data.frame(X = rnorm(10),                        
                 Y = rnorm(10))

# Create ggplot2 ScatterPlot with SuperScripted 
# value of Label of Axis.
ggplot(DF,aes(X, Y))+
  geom_point(size = 8, fill = "green", 
             color = "black", shape = 21)+
  xlab(bquote(X-Axis^superscript))+
  ylab(bquote(Y-Axis^superscript))

Output:

Adding Subscript Axis Labels

We will change the label of X to " X-Axis_subscript " and Y to " Y-Axis_subscript ". For that, we will again use the bquote() function but with different Mathematical Notation for subscript.

bquote() For Subscript :

bquote(math subscript([]) Notation)

Example:

# Load ggplot2 Package
library("ggplot2")

# Create a DataFrame For Plotting
DF <- data.frame(X = rnorm(10),                        
                 Y = rnorm(10))

# Create ggplot2 ScatterPlot with SubScripted 
# value of Label of Axis.
ggplot(DF,aes(X, Y))+
  geom_point(size = 8, fill = "green",
             color = "black", shape = 21)+
  xlab(bquote(X-Axis[subscript]))+
  ylab(bquote(Y-Axis[subscript]))

Output: