\phantom command draws space. The box created by \phantom has width, height and depth equal to its argument. In other words, \phantom creates horizontal and vertical space equal to that of its argument, even though the argument isn't visible.

EXAMPLE

```
\Gamma^{\phantom{i}j}_{i\phantom{j}k}
```
$ \Gamma^{\phantom{i}j}_{i\phantom{j}k} $
```
\matrix{1&-1\cr 2&\phantom{-}3}
```
$ \matrix{1&-1\cr 2&\phantom{-}3} $