diff --git a/doc/conf.py b/doc/conf.py
index ebf9bfb2f..f99d0cee6 100644
--- a/doc/conf.py
+++ b/doc/conf.py
@@ -196,9 +196,8 @@ def local_inv(name: str, *parts: str) -> Optional[str]:
 
 # See https://github.com/iiasa/message_ix/pull/721#pullrequestreview-1497907368:
 # prefer to write \text{} explicitly
-# TODO read at least some of these from message_ix.models
-# TODO complete list
-# TODO also add these to a LaTeX preamble
+# TODO Populate these by reference to message_ix.models
+# TODO Also add these to a LaTeX preamble for PDF output
 text_macros = """ACT
 STORAGE
 STORAGE_CHARGE
@@ -213,6 +212,10 @@ def local_inv(name: str, *parts: str) -> Optional[str]:
         macros={k.replace("_", ""): r"\text{" + k + "}" for k in text_macros.split()},
     ),
 )
+# Example only for #811
+mathjax3_config["tex"]["macros"].update(
+    output=r"\text{output}_{c h h^D l m n^D n^L t y^A y^V}",
+)
 
 # -- Options for sphinx.ext.napoleon ---------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/doc/index.rst b/doc/index.rst
index 2ec50e045..c6239c5de 100644
--- a/doc/index.rst
+++ b/doc/index.rst
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ the core MESSAGEix mathematical implementation.
    :hidden:
    :caption: Mathematical Specification
 
+   notation
    model/MESSAGE/sets_maps_def
    time
    model/MESSAGE/parameter_def
diff --git a/doc/notation.rst b/doc/notation.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..52876f9aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/notation.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+Notation
+********
+
+This page explains the notation used in this mathematical formulation section of the documentation, using the following example:
+
+.. math::
+
+   & \forall \, c, h, \ l \notin L^{\text{RES}} \cup L^{\text{REN}} \cup L^{\text{STOR}}, n = n^D = n^O, y = y^A: \\&
+   \sum_{h m n^L t ; y^V \leq y}{\left(
+     \output
+     \cdot \text{duration_time_rel}_{h^1=h^D;h^2=h}
+     \cdot \text{ACT}_{h m n^L t y^A y^V}
+   \right)} \\&
+   - \sum_{h m n^L t; y^V \leq y}{\left(
+     \text{input}_{c h h^O l m n^L n^O t y^A y^V}
+     \cdot \text{duration_time_rel}_{h^1=h^O;h^2=h}
+     \cdot \text{ACT}_{h m n^L t y^A y^V}
+   \right)} \\&
+   + \text{STOCK_CHG}_{c h l n y} \\&
+   + \sum_{s}{\left(
+      \left( \text{land_output}_{c h l n s y} - \text{land_input}_{c h l n s y} \right)
+     \cdot \text{LAND}_{n s y}
+   \right)} \\&
+   - \text{demand_fixed}_{c h l n y} \\&
+   = \\&
+   \text{COMMODITY_BALANCE}_{c h l n y}
+
+- The equality (=) or inequality (< or >) relation is on a line by itself.
+  This allows to distinguish the **left- and right-hand sides** of the expression.
+- The first line begins with the "for all …" symbol (:math:`\forall`) and gives:
+
+  - The **dimensionality** of the equation or inequality, via a list of **indices** (in alphabetical order).
+    In some cases, this is equivalent to the dimensionality of a single term on either side.
+    In the example above, this is COMMODITY_BALANCE.
+    Where both sides are more complicated, the first line informs about the dimensionality.
+  - Any **conditions or restrictions** on the set members to which the indices apply.
+    Implicitly, indices without condition may take any value from their corresponding set.
+    In the example above:
+
+    - Index :math:`l` must be in the union of certain other sets.
+    - The indices :math:`y` (for parameters/variables with a dimension named "year") must always align with indices :math:`y^A` (for parameters/variables with a dimension named "year_active").
+    - Likewise, :math:`n`, :math:`n^D` (node_dest), and :math:`n^O` (node_origin) must all be aligned
+    - The other indices are unconstrained, so implicitly :math:`c \in C` and :math:`h \in H`.
+
+- References to items (exogenous **parameters** or endogenous **variables**) include:
+
+  - The **name** in roman (upright) text.
+    Parameter names are always lower case, for instance 'output'.
+    Variables names are always upper case, for instance 'ACT'.
+
+  - Its **dimensionality** as a right subscript with an alphabetical list of indices.
+    These:
+
+    - Always exactly restate the dimensionality of the item given elsewhere in this documentation.
+      That is, the indices do indicate aggregation or other operations.
+    - *May* express an alignment or restriction of indices, *if and only if* this is particular to one reference of the parameter/variable.
+      Otherwise, these are expressed in the first line, as described above.
+      In the above example, 'duration_time_rel' has indices :math:`h^1, h^2`, but these are aligned differently in the two places it is used in the equation.
+    - Facilitate understanding of alignment and broadcasting between elements of parameters/variables with different dimensionality.
+
+- Indices are always exactly one character, for instance 'y'.
+  If a parameter or variable is indexed more than once by the same set, all but 0 or 1 occurrence of the same base has a right superscript, for instance :math:`y^A` and :math:`y^V`.
+  These correspond to different **dimension- or index names** given in the "sets and parameters" page of the documentation; for instance :math:`y^A` is always the dimension/index name "year_active", referring to a member of :math:`Y^A \subseteq Y`.
+- In both the left- and right-hand sides:
+
+  - Individual additive terms are shown on separate lines.
+  - Operands for operations like summation, if including multiple terms, are enclosed in parentheses.
+
+LateX source
+============
+
+The following describes the usage of LaTeX markup to **write** equations.
+Users who are only *reading* the documentation to aid usage of :mod:`message_ix` do not need to read these instructions.
+
+…