Double Subscript Or Superscript

A base has two superscripts (x^2^3) or two subscripts (x_1_2) in a row.

Q-22-7 — Double Subscript Or Superscript

A base has two superscripts (x^2^3) or two subscripts (x_1_2) in a row.

What this means

A base takes at most one ^ and one _. TeX rejects a second one outright; quarto-math keeps the first script, reports the second, and falls back to verbatim source in formats that need a conversion.

Why this happens

Common causes: a missing brace group (x^2^3 when x^{2^3} or {x^2}^3 was meant), or a macro that expands to a script applied to something that already has one.

How to fix it

Group the intended structure with braces: x^{2^3} for a tower, {x^2}^3 for a script on a scripted base.

Where it is reported

Math diagnostics point into the .qmd at the exact characters inside the $…$ or $$…$$ block, including math that spans several lines or sits inside a block quote or list item. When a \newcommand macro is involved, a problem inside the macro body points at the definition and a problem in a macro argument points at the use.