LATEX Command Summary \\* terminates a line, but disallows a pagebreak.
\] — same as \end{displaymath} or $$.
This listing contains short descriptions of the \ˆ makes a circumflex, as ô.
control sequences that are likely to be handy for
users of LATEX v2.09 layered on TEX v2.0. Some \_ is an underscore, as in hours worked.
of these commands are LATEX macros, while oth- \‘ in tabbing environment moves all text which
ers belong to plain TEX; no attempt to differen- follows (up to \\) to the right margin.
tiate them is made. Elsewhere, grave accent , as ò.
\{ prints a curly left brace: {.
\ — ordinary space after period. \| is k (math mode).
\! — negative thin space = − 61 quad; \} prints a curly right brace: }.
xx\!x yields xxx (math mode).
\˜ makes a tilde, as ñ.
\" makes an umlaut, as ö.
\a’ makes an acute accent in tabbing
\# prints a pound sign: #. environment, as ó.
\$ prints a dollar sign: $. \a‘ makes a grave accent in tabbing
\% prints a percent sign: %. environment, as ò.
\& prints an ampersand: &. \a= makes a macron accent in tabbing
\’ in tabbing environment moves current column environment, as ō.
to the right of the previous column. Elsewhere, \aa is å. \AA is Å.
acute accent, as ó. \acute makes an acute accent: á (math mode).
\( — start math mode. Same as \begin{math} \addcontentsline{toc}{section}{name} adds
or $. the command \contentsline{section}{name}
\) — end math mode. Same as \end{math} or $. to the .toc file.
\* is a discretionary multiplication sign, at which \address{text} declares the return address in
a line break is allowed. the letter document style.
\+ moves left margin to the right by one tab stop. \addtocontents{toc}{text} writes text to the
Begin tabbed line. .toc file.
\, — thin space = 16 quad; xx\,x yields xx x. It \addtocounter{name}{amount} adds amount to
is not restricted to math mode. counter name.
\- in tabbing environment, moves left margin to \addtolength{\nl}{length} adds length to
the left by one tab stop. Elsewhere, optional length command \nl. See also \setlength,
hyphenation. \newlength, \settowidth.
\. puts a dot accent over a letter, as ȯ. \ae is æ. \AE is Æ.
\/ inserts italics adjustment space. \aleph is ℵ (math mode).
2
\: — medium space = 9 quad; xx\:x yields xx x \alph{counter} prints counter as lower-case
(math mode). letters. \Alph{counter} prints upper-case
5
\; — thick space = 18 quad; xx\;x yields xx x letters.
(math mode). \alpha is α (math mode).
\< in tabbing environment, puts text to left of \amalg is q (math mode).
local left margin.
\and separates multiple authors for the
\= in tabbing environment, sets a tab stop. \maketitle command.
Elsewhere, makes a macron accent, as ō.
\angle is 6 (math mode).
\> in tabbing environment is a forward tab.
Otherwise, medium space = 29 quad (math \appendix starts appendices.
mode). \approx is ≈ (math mode).
\@ declares the period that follows is to be a \arabic{counter} prints counter as arabic
sentence-ending period. numerals 1, 2, etc.
\[ — same as \begin{displaymath} or $$. \arccos is arccos (math mode).
\\ terminates a line. \arcsin is arcsin (math mode).
, 2 LATEX Command Summary
\arctan is arctan (math mode). \begin{figure}[pos] begins a floating
\arg is arg (math mode). environment, which may be optionally placed
at pos (see positions on page 8). Document
\arraycolsep — width of the space between
styles report and article use the default tbp.
columns in an array environment.
\begin{figure*}[pos] begins a
\arrayrulewidth — width of the rule created in
two-column-wide figure. See \begin{figure}.
tabular or array environment by |, \hline,
or \vline. \begin{flushleft} starts environment with
ragged right-hand margin. Separate lines with
\arraystretch — scale factor for interrow
\\. See \raggedright.
spacing in array and tabular environments.
\begin{flushright} starts environment with
\ast is ∗ (math mode).
ragged left-hand margin. Separate lines with
\asymp is (math mode). \\. See \raggedleft.
\author{names} declares author(s) for the \begin{itemize} starts a “bulleted” (•) list.
\maketitle command. Start each item with \item.
\b is a “bar-under” accent, as o. \begin{list}{labeling}{spacing} starts a
¯
\backslash is \ (math mode). general list environment. labeling specifies
\bar puts a macron over a letter: ā (math mode). how items are labeled when \item has no
\baselineskip — distance from bottom of one argument. spacing is an optional list of
line of a paragraph to bottom of the next line. spacing parameters.
\baselinestretch — factor by which \begin{math} starts a math display like this:
\baselineskip is multiplied each time a type x2 + y 2 , within text. Same as $ or \(.
size changing command is executed. \begin{minipage}[pos]{vsize} starts a box of
\begin{environment } — always paired with height vsize. Text will be positioned according
\end{environment }. Following are the assorted to pos (see positions on page 8).
environments. \begin{picture}(x, y)(xl, yl ) starts a picture
\begin{abstract} starts an environment for environment whose width is x units, height is y
producing an abstract. units, and lower-left corner is the point (xl , yl ).
Set units with \unitlength.
\begin{array}{lrc} starts array environment
with 3 columns, left-justified, right-justified, \begin{quotation} starts an environment with
and centered. Separate columns with &, and wider margins, normal paragraph indenting,
end lines with \\. @{text} between l, r or c and offset from the text at top and bottom.
arguments puts text between columns. \begin{quote} starts an environment with wider
\begin{center} starts an environment in which margins, no paragraph indenting, and offset
every line is centered. End lines with \\. from the text at top and bottom.
\begin{description} starts a labeled list. Items \begin{tabbing} starts a columnar environment.
are indicated by \item[label]. Use commands \= (set tab), \> (tab), \<
(backtab), \+ (indent one tab stop), \-
\begin{displaymath} sets mathematics on lines
(outdent one tab stop), \‘ (flush right), \’
of its own. Same as \[ or $$.
(flush left), \pushtabs, \poptabs, \kill, \\.
\begin{document} starts the actual text of a
\begin{table}[pos] begins a floating
document. Required.
environment, which may be optionally placed
\begin{enumerate} starts a numbered list. at pos (see positions on page 8). Document
\begin{eqnarray} starts a displaymath styles report and article use the default tbp.
environment in which more than one equation \begin{table*}[pos] begins a two-column-wide
can be accommodated. Separate equations with table. See \begin{table}.
\\ or \\*; use \nonumber to suppress
\begin{tabular}{arg} starts an array
numbering a particular equation.
environment which can be used in or out of
\begin{eqnarray*} begins an environment like math mode. arg contains column text
the eqnarray environment except that the positioning commands r, l, c, @{...},
equations aren’t numbered. p{length} (see positions on page 8).
\begin{equation} starts a displaymath | produces vertical line between columns.
environment and adds an equation number. *{7}{r|l|} repeats that entry 7 times.
\] — same as \end{displaymath} or $$.
This listing contains short descriptions of the \ˆ makes a circumflex, as ô.
control sequences that are likely to be handy for
users of LATEX v2.09 layered on TEX v2.0. Some \_ is an underscore, as in hours worked.
of these commands are LATEX macros, while oth- \‘ in tabbing environment moves all text which
ers belong to plain TEX; no attempt to differen- follows (up to \\) to the right margin.
tiate them is made. Elsewhere, grave accent , as ò.
\{ prints a curly left brace: {.
\ — ordinary space after period. \| is k (math mode).
\! — negative thin space = − 61 quad; \} prints a curly right brace: }.
xx\!x yields xxx (math mode).
\˜ makes a tilde, as ñ.
\" makes an umlaut, as ö.
\a’ makes an acute accent in tabbing
\# prints a pound sign: #. environment, as ó.
\$ prints a dollar sign: $. \a‘ makes a grave accent in tabbing
\% prints a percent sign: %. environment, as ò.
\& prints an ampersand: &. \a= makes a macron accent in tabbing
\’ in tabbing environment moves current column environment, as ō.
to the right of the previous column. Elsewhere, \aa is å. \AA is Å.
acute accent, as ó. \acute makes an acute accent: á (math mode).
\( — start math mode. Same as \begin{math} \addcontentsline{toc}{section}{name} adds
or $. the command \contentsline{section}{name}
\) — end math mode. Same as \end{math} or $. to the .toc file.
\* is a discretionary multiplication sign, at which \address{text} declares the return address in
a line break is allowed. the letter document style.
\+ moves left margin to the right by one tab stop. \addtocontents{toc}{text} writes text to the
Begin tabbed line. .toc file.
\, — thin space = 16 quad; xx\,x yields xx x. It \addtocounter{name}{amount} adds amount to
is not restricted to math mode. counter name.
\- in tabbing environment, moves left margin to \addtolength{\nl}{length} adds length to
the left by one tab stop. Elsewhere, optional length command \nl. See also \setlength,
hyphenation. \newlength, \settowidth.
\. puts a dot accent over a letter, as ȯ. \ae is æ. \AE is Æ.
\/ inserts italics adjustment space. \aleph is ℵ (math mode).
2
\: — medium space = 9 quad; xx\:x yields xx x \alph{counter} prints counter as lower-case
(math mode). letters. \Alph{counter} prints upper-case
5
\; — thick space = 18 quad; xx\;x yields xx x letters.
(math mode). \alpha is α (math mode).
\< in tabbing environment, puts text to left of \amalg is q (math mode).
local left margin.
\and separates multiple authors for the
\= in tabbing environment, sets a tab stop. \maketitle command.
Elsewhere, makes a macron accent, as ō.
\angle is 6 (math mode).
\> in tabbing environment is a forward tab.
Otherwise, medium space = 29 quad (math \appendix starts appendices.
mode). \approx is ≈ (math mode).
\@ declares the period that follows is to be a \arabic{counter} prints counter as arabic
sentence-ending period. numerals 1, 2, etc.
\[ — same as \begin{displaymath} or $$. \arccos is arccos (math mode).
\\ terminates a line. \arcsin is arcsin (math mode).
, 2 LATEX Command Summary
\arctan is arctan (math mode). \begin{figure}[pos] begins a floating
\arg is arg (math mode). environment, which may be optionally placed
at pos (see positions on page 8). Document
\arraycolsep — width of the space between
styles report and article use the default tbp.
columns in an array environment.
\begin{figure*}[pos] begins a
\arrayrulewidth — width of the rule created in
two-column-wide figure. See \begin{figure}.
tabular or array environment by |, \hline,
or \vline. \begin{flushleft} starts environment with
ragged right-hand margin. Separate lines with
\arraystretch — scale factor for interrow
\\. See \raggedright.
spacing in array and tabular environments.
\begin{flushright} starts environment with
\ast is ∗ (math mode).
ragged left-hand margin. Separate lines with
\asymp is (math mode). \\. See \raggedleft.
\author{names} declares author(s) for the \begin{itemize} starts a “bulleted” (•) list.
\maketitle command. Start each item with \item.
\b is a “bar-under” accent, as o. \begin{list}{labeling}{spacing} starts a
¯
\backslash is \ (math mode). general list environment. labeling specifies
\bar puts a macron over a letter: ā (math mode). how items are labeled when \item has no
\baselineskip — distance from bottom of one argument. spacing is an optional list of
line of a paragraph to bottom of the next line. spacing parameters.
\baselinestretch — factor by which \begin{math} starts a math display like this:
\baselineskip is multiplied each time a type x2 + y 2 , within text. Same as $ or \(.
size changing command is executed. \begin{minipage}[pos]{vsize} starts a box of
\begin{environment } — always paired with height vsize. Text will be positioned according
\end{environment }. Following are the assorted to pos (see positions on page 8).
environments. \begin{picture}(x, y)(xl, yl ) starts a picture
\begin{abstract} starts an environment for environment whose width is x units, height is y
producing an abstract. units, and lower-left corner is the point (xl , yl ).
Set units with \unitlength.
\begin{array}{lrc} starts array environment
with 3 columns, left-justified, right-justified, \begin{quotation} starts an environment with
and centered. Separate columns with &, and wider margins, normal paragraph indenting,
end lines with \\. @{text} between l, r or c and offset from the text at top and bottom.
arguments puts text between columns. \begin{quote} starts an environment with wider
\begin{center} starts an environment in which margins, no paragraph indenting, and offset
every line is centered. End lines with \\. from the text at top and bottom.
\begin{description} starts a labeled list. Items \begin{tabbing} starts a columnar environment.
are indicated by \item[label]. Use commands \= (set tab), \> (tab), \<
(backtab), \+ (indent one tab stop), \-
\begin{displaymath} sets mathematics on lines
(outdent one tab stop), \‘ (flush right), \’
of its own. Same as \[ or $$.
(flush left), \pushtabs, \poptabs, \kill, \\.
\begin{document} starts the actual text of a
\begin{table}[pos] begins a floating
document. Required.
environment, which may be optionally placed
\begin{enumerate} starts a numbered list. at pos (see positions on page 8). Document
\begin{eqnarray} starts a displaymath styles report and article use the default tbp.
environment in which more than one equation \begin{table*}[pos] begins a two-column-wide
can be accommodated. Separate equations with table. See \begin{table}.
\\ or \\*; use \nonumber to suppress
\begin{tabular}{arg} starts an array
numbering a particular equation.
environment which can be used in or out of
\begin{eqnarray*} begins an environment like math mode. arg contains column text
the eqnarray environment except that the positioning commands r, l, c, @{...},
equations aren’t numbered. p{length} (see positions on page 8).
\begin{equation} starts a displaymath | produces vertical line between columns.
environment and adds an equation number. *{7}{r|l|} repeats that entry 7 times.
