[Matplotlib-users] Left-aligned and centered title

[Florian M. W. <wag...@st...>]

Dear users,

I would like label my subplots with a horizontally left-aligned letter 
(wanted by the journal) and the normal, centered axes title, which 
should both be vertically in line. The following example does not work:

    from matplotlib import pyplot as plt
    import numpy as np

    fig, ax1 = plt.subplots()
    x = np.linspace(1,10)
    y = (sin(x))
    ax1.plot(x,y)

    def subplot_label(ax, letter, title):
         title = ax.set_title(title)
         pos = title.get_position()
         va = title.get_va()
         ax.text(0, pos[1], letter, transform=ax.transAxes,
    verticalalignment=va)

    subplot_label(ax1, 'a)', 'This text is not aligned with the label')


Which property of the axes title am I missing?

Thank you for your help