I would like brackets are not resized when a dot is added to its contents. Brackets in the (math mode) expression | \phi > get larger when \phi is changed to \dot\phi, in order to accomodate a bigger symbol. I would like the whole symbol | \phi > be affected by the dot, so that brackets will not be resized. I tried \dot| \phi > and \dot{| \phi >} but results are not what satisfactory thak you for your suggestions Pol -- Paolo Pumilia email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] o o o cstc o o o