Hi all, Based on the docs, the three following forms should yield the same results: (format-mode-line `(:propertize #("AB" 1 2 (x 0)) y 0)) (format-mode-line `(:propertize ("A" #("B" 0 1 (x 0))) y 0)) (format-mode-line '(:propertize ("A" (:propertize "B" x 0)) y 0)) But they don't: (format-mode-line `(:propertize #("AB" 1 2 (x 0)) y 0)) => #("AB" 0 2 (y 0)) ;; x 0 is dropped (format-mode-line '(:propertize ("A" (:propertize "B" x 0)) y 0)) ⇒ #("AB" 0 1 (y 0) 1 2 (x 0)) ;; y 0 is dropped on 1..2 (format-mode-line `(:propertize ("A" #("B" 0 1 (x 0))) y 0)) ⇒ #("AB" 0 1 (y 0) 1 2 (y 0 x 0)) ;; Seems right Am I misreading the docs? Clément.