Improving vertical symbol spacing in partial derivative equations

[BvU]

TL;DR Summary

Trying to vertically align partial u with partial phi

It's a detail, but annoying to me: ${\partial u\over \partial x} = {\partial \phi \over \partial x} \;+ ...$
$${\partial u\over \partial x} = {\partial \phi \over \partial x} \;+ ...$$
How do I move up $\partial u$ a little bit so it aligns with $\partial \phi$ ?

 

[robphy]

Summary:: Trying to vertically align partial u with partial phi

It's a detail, but annoying to me: ${\partial u\over \partial x} = {\partial \phi \over \partial x} \;+ ...$
$${\partial u\over \partial x} = {\partial \phi \over \partial x} \;+ ...$$
How do I move up $\partial u$ a little bit so it aligns with $\partial \phi$ ?

It seems like a problem using itex

Try: \partial \vphantom{\phi} u

${\partial u\vphantom{\phi}\over \partial x}{\partial u\over \partial x} = {\partial \phi \over \partial x} \;+ ...$
$${\partial u\vphantom{\phi}\over \partial x}{\partial u\over \partial x} = {\partial \phi \over \partial x} \;+ ...$$