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In a math or physics context, I would like to say the following:

In this equation, we subscript or superscript the variables by "eq" which stands for "equilibrium".

The "eq" is added as a lowerscript to some variables (for example xeq) and as a superscript to others (yeq). Is there a way to designate both at the same time?

Alternatively, would the following be correct?

In this equation, we decorate the variables by "eq" which stands for "equilibrium".

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    Just say subscript or superscript. There's no single word that everyone will understand for what you want.
    – Peter Shor
    Commented Sep 16, 2014 at 12:17
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    You should probably be consistent and pick just one. Different symbolisms in math usually imply different functionality. Also, you'd probably get better answers on a math site.
    – Mitch
    Commented Sep 16, 2014 at 12:19
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    You label. You most certainly don't decorate, that's the opposite of math. As a side note, you're also looking for a hypernym, not for "indifferently". To refer to these things indifferently, just use any random word at all.
    – RegDwigнt
    Commented Sep 16, 2014 at 12:26
  • Perhaps he meant indiscriminately
    – mplungjan
    Commented Sep 16, 2014 at 12:48
  • If the sub- or superscripts are indexes (indices for those who prefer), then you can just refer to an individual s-ors- as an "index" or "index marker" if you want to be precise. In some areas of math, like tensor analysis, there are notations that switch from sub- to super- or vice versa, depending on boundary conditions. Since you're asking for a verb, index works there, too. However, I'd say with instead of by; that indicates the "eq" is a marker, not a property measuring some trait.
    – John Lawler
    Commented Sep 16, 2014 at 14:30

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I don't think there's a word for the common concept. The Wikipedia article is titled Subscript and superscript. Throughout the article, it never uses a single word to refer to them collectively. When it wants to abbreviate, it sometimes says sub- and/or superscript.

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  • OK. If there is no word for that, I think that @RegDwigнt's suggestion "we label the variables" is the best alternative.
    – Tony
    Commented Sep 16, 2014 at 15:17
  • If someone said that, I'm not sure I'd realize they means a superscript or subscript until after they show an example. But I'm not a mathematician, maybe they'd guess it right.
    – Barmar
    Commented Sep 16, 2014 at 15:55

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