# Force union "∪" to typeset big

I'm asking about typing math in an inline text cell. So in a text cell, ctrl-9 puts the cursor in an inline cell.

Then escunesc1ctrl-_2 produces

so evidently that subscript isn't "low enough" to influence the ∪ to be big. If you do q instead of 2 in the subscript, it is "low enough" to make ∪ big:

but it seems what's to the left of ∪ takes precedence: type a at the left of the inline cell:

Small again. That's not a huge issue, because I can place it in an adjacent inline cell. The bigger issue is I can't figure out how to put ∪ at the center of an UnderoverscriptBox. It always snaps to sub/superscripts and a small glyph instead of like in DisplayForm

How should I be typesetting my math if not in inline text cells? Is this similar to \scriptstyle \displaystyle shenanigans in $$\TeX$$?

• One simple way that I often use (not with the union symbol though) is just to highlight the symbol in question, go to Menu/Format/Size and select the size of my wish. Jun 16, 2022 at 9:06
• In V13 you can use an inline TeX cell. Jun 16, 2022 at 19:05

You can control this with a style sheet. For example:

SetOptions[
EvaluationNotebook[],
StyleDefinitions -> Notebook[
{
Cell[StyleData[StyleDefinitions->"Default.nb"]],
Cell[StyleData["InlineCell"], ScriptLevel->0, LimitsPositioningTokens->{}]
},
StyleDefinitions->"PrivateStylesheetFormatting.nb"
]
]