# Labelling axes on a PolarPlot

Mathematica doesn't seem to be able to label axes properly on a PolarPlot or PolarListPlot. See for instance:

PolarPlot[theta, {theta, 0, 2 Pi}, PolarAxes -> True, AxesLabel -> {"r", "theta"}]


Any thoughts? Do I just need to add this manually using Text in an Epilog or something?

## 1 Answer

AxesLabel is only valid for the option PolarAxis->False. With theta running around a circle and r running along the radius it kind of hard to mark clearly. It seems there is no option in PolarPlot that is dedicated to this. My suggestion is using text and arrows.

• Thanks. Actually it's not as painful to use Text as I thought. Annoying though! – benshepherd Sep 17 '15 at 11:22
• A primitive version is this:PolarPlot[theta, {theta, 0, 2 Pi}, PolarAxes -> True, Epilog -> { Arrow[{{1, 0}, {1, 2}}], Text["R", {1.5, 0.5}], Arrow[{{0, 9.5}, {-2, 9.5}}], Text["theta", {1, 9.5}]}] – Eisbär Sep 17 '15 at 11:26
• I agree. My primitve version needs adjusting for every plot. Making an genereal version is far more effort. – Eisbär Sep 17 '15 at 11:28