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#### 6.8.10.4 Other Compositions

The `csup` function builds a superscripted expression. For example, ‘`csup(a, b)`’ looks the same as ‘`a^b`’ does in Big language mode. This is essentially a horizontal composition of ‘`a`’ and ‘`b`’, where ‘`b`’ is shifted up so that its bottom line is one above the baseline.

Likewise, the `csub` function builds a subscripted expression. This shifts ‘`b`’ down so that its top line is one below the bottom line of ‘`a`’ (note that this is not quite analogous to `csup`). Other arrangements can be obtained by using `choriz` and `cvert` directly.

The `cflat` function formats its argument in “flat” mode, as obtained by ‘`d O`’, if the current language mode is normal or Big. It has no effect in other language modes. For example, ‘`a^(b/c)`’ is formatted by Big mode like ‘`csup(a, cflat(b/c))`’ to improve its readability.

The `cspace` function creates horizontal space. For example, ‘`cspace(4)`’ is effectively the same as ‘`string(" ")`’. A second string (i.e., vector of characters) argument is repeated instead of the space character. For example, ‘`cspace(4, "ab")`’ looks like ‘`abababab`’. If the second argument is not a string, it is formatted in the normal way and then several copies of that are composed together: ‘`cspace(4, a^2)`’ yields

     2 2 2 2
    a a a a

If the number argument is zero, this is a zero-width object.

The `cvspace` function creates vertical space, or a vertical stack of copies of a certain string or formatted object. The baseline is the center line of the resulting stack. A numerical argument of zero will produce an object which contributes zero height if used in a vertical composition.

There are also `ctspace` and `cbspace` functions which create vertical space with the baseline the same as the baseline of the top or bottom copy, respectively, of the second argument. Thus ‘`cvspace(2, a/b) + ctspace(2, a/b) + cbspace(2, a/b)`’ displays as:

            a
            -
    a       b
    -   a   a
    b + - + -
    a   b   b
    -   a
    b   -
        b

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