LaTeX/Command Glossary

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This is a glossary of LaTeX commands—an alphabetical listing of LaTeX commands with the summaries of their effects. (Brackets "[]" are optional arguments and braces "{}" are required arguments.)

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# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] #

/: see slash marks
\@: following period ends sentence
\\[*][extra-space]: new line. See Page Layout.
\,: thin space, math and text mode
\;: thick space, math mode
\:: medium space, math mode
\!: negative thin space, math mode
\-: hyphenation; tabbing
\=: set tab, see tabbing
\>: tab, see tabbing
\<: back tab, see tabbing
\+: see tabbing
\': accent or tabbing
\`: accent or tabbing
\|: double vertical lines, math mode
\(: start math environment
\): end math environment
\[: begin displaymath environment
\]: end displaymath environment

[edit] A

\addcontentsline{file}{sec_unit}{entry}: adds an entry to the specified list or table
\addtocontents{file}{text}: adds text (or formatting commands) directly to the file that generates the specified list or table
\addtocounter{counter}{value}: increments the counter
\address{Return address}
\addtolength{len-cmd}{len}: increments a length command, see Useful Measurement Macros
\addvspace: adds a vertical space of a specified height
\alph: causes the current value of a specified counter to be printed in alphabetic characters
\appendix: changes the way sectional units are numbered so that information after the command is considered part of the appendix
\arabic: causes the current value of a specified counter to be printed in Arabic numbers
\author: declares the author(s). See Document Structure

[edit] B

\backslash: prints a backslash
\baselineskip: a length command (see Useful Measurement Macros), which specifies the minimum space between the bottom of two successive lines in a paragraph
\baselinestretch: scales the value of \baselineskip
\bf: Boldface typeface
\bibitem: generates a labeled entry for the bibliography
\bigskipamount
\bigskip: equivalent to \vspace{\bigskipamount}
\boldmath: bold font in math mode

[edit] C

\cal: Calligraphic style in math mode
\caption: generate caption for figures and tables
\cdots: Centered dots
\centering: Used to center align LaTeX environments
\chapter: Starts a new chapter. See Document Structure.
\circle
\cite: Used to make citations from the provided bibliography
\cleardoublepage
\clearpage: Ends the current page and causes any floats to be printed. See Page Layout.
\cline: Adds horizontal line in a table that spans only to a range of cells. See \hline and Tables chapter.
\closing
\color: Specifies color of the text. LaTeX/Colors
\copyright: makes © sign. See Formatting.

[edit] D

\dashbox
\date
\ddots
\documentclass[options]{style}: Used to begin a latex document
\dotfill

[edit] E

\em: Italicizes the text which is inside curly braces with the command. Such as {\em This is in italics}. This command allows nesting.
\emph
\ensuremath (LaTeX2e)
\euro: Prints euro € symbol. Requires eurosym package.

[edit] F

\fbox
\flushbottom
\fnsymbol
\footnote: Creates a footnote.
\footnotemark
\footnotesize: Sets font size. See Formatting.
\footnotetext
\frac
\frame
\framebox: Like \makebox but creates a frame around the box. See LaTeX/Advanced Topics#Boxes.
\frenchspacing: Instructs LaTex to abstain from inserting more space after a period (´.´) than is the case for an ordinary character. In order to untoggle this functionality resort to the command \nonfrenchspacing.

[edit] G

[edit] H

\hfill: Abbreviation for \hspace{\fill}.
\hline: adds a horizontal line in a tabular environment. See also \cline, Tables chapter.
\hrulefill
\hspace: Produces horizontal space.
\huge: Sets font size. See Formatting.
\Huge: Sets font size. See Formatting.
\hyphenation

[edit] I

\include
\includegraphics: Inserts an image. Requires graphicx package.
\includeonly
\indent
\input: Used to read in LaTex files
\it: Italicizes the text which is inside curly braces with the command. Such as {\it This is in italics}. \em is generally preferred since this allows nesting.
\item: Creates an item in a list. Used in list structures.

[edit] K

\kill

[edit] L

\label: Used to create label which can be later referenced with \ref. See Labels and Cross-referencing.
\large: Sets font size. See Formatting.
\Large: Sets font size. See Formatting.
\LARGE: Sets font size. See Formatting.
\LaTeX: Prints LaTeX logo. See Formatting.
\LaTeXe: Prints current LaTeX version logo. See Formatting.
\ldots: Prints sequence of three dots. See Formatting.
\left
\lefteqn
\line
\linebreak: Suggests LaTeX to break line in this place. See Page Layout.
\linethickness
\linewidth
\listoffigures
\listoftables
\location

[edit] M

\makebox: Defines a box that has a specified width, independent from its content. See LaTeX/Advanced Topics#Boxes.
\maketitle
\markboth \markright
\mathcal
\mathop
\mbox
\medskip
\multicolumn
\multiput

[edit] N

\newcommand
\newcounter
\newenvironment
\newfont
\newlength
\newline: Ends current line and starts a new one. See Page Layout.
\newpage: Ends current page and starts a new one. See Page Layout.
\newsavebox
\newtheorem
\nocite
\noindent
\nolinebreak
\nonfrenchspacing: Setting the command untoggles the command \frenchspacing and activates LaTeX standards to insert more space after a period (´.´) than after an ordinary character.
\normalsize: Sets default font size. See Formatting.
\nopagebreak: Suggests LaTeX not to break page in this place. See Page Layout.
\not

[edit] O

\onecolumn
\opening
\oval
\overbrace
\overline: Draws a line over the argument.

[edit] P

\pagebreak: Suggests LaTeX breaking page in this place. See Page Layout.
\pagenumbering
\pageref: Used to reference to number of page where a previously declared \label is located. See Floats, Figures and Captions.
\pagestyle
\par: Starts a new paragraph
\paragraph: Starts a new paragraph. See Document Structure.
\parbox: Defines a box whose contents are created in paragraph mode. See LaTeX/Advanced Topics#Boxes.
\parindent: Normal paragraph indentation. See Useful Measurement Macros.
\parskip
\part: Starts a new part of a book. See Document Structure.
\protect
\providecommand (LaTeX2e): See Customizing LaTeX.
\put

[edit] R

\raggedbottom: Command used for top justified within other environments.
\raggedleft: Command used for right justified within other environments.
\raggedright: Command used for left justified within other environments.
\raisebox: Creates a box and raises its content. See LaTeX/Advanced Topics#Boxes.
\ref: Used to reference to number of previously declared \label. See Labels and Cross-referencing.
\renewcommand
\right
\rm
\roman
\rule: Creates a line of specified width and height. See LaTeX/Advanced Topics#Rules and Struts.

[edit] S

\savebox: Makes a box and saves it in a named storage bin.
\sbox: The short form of \savebox with no optional arguments.
\sc
\scriptsize: Sets font size. See Formatting.
\section: Starts a new section. See Document Structure.
\setcounter
\setlength
\settowidth
\sf
\shortstack
\signature
\sl
\slash: See slash marks
\small: Sets font size. See Formatting.
\smallskip
\sout: Strikes out text. Requires ulem package. See Formatting.
\space: force ordinary space
\sqrt: Creats a root (default square, but magnitude can be given as an optional parameter).
\stackrel: Takes two arguments and stacks the first on top of the second.
\subparagraph: Starts a new subparagraph. See Document Structure.
\subsection: Starts a new subsection. See Document Structure.
\subsubsection: Starts a new sub-subsection. See Document Structure.

[edit] T

\tableofcontents
\telephone
\TeX: Prints TeX logo. See Formatting.
\textbf{}: Sets bold font style. See Formatting.
\textit{}: Sets italic font style. See Formatting.
\textmd{}: Sets medium weight of a font. See Formatting.
\textnormal{}: Sets normal font. See Formatting.
\textrm{}: Sets roman font family. See Formatting.
\textsc{}: Sets font style to small caps. See Formatting.
\textsf{}: Sets sans serif font family. See Formatting.
\textsl{}: Sets slanted font style. See Formatting.
\texttt{}: Sets typewriter font family. See Formatting.
\textup{}: Sets upright shape of a font. See Formatting.
\textwidth
\textheight
\thanks
\thispagestyle
\tiny: Sets font size. See Formatting.
\title
\today: Writes current day. See Formatting.
\tt
\twocolumn
\typeout
\typein

[edit] U

\uline: Underlines text. Requires ulem package. See Formatting.
\underbrace
\underline
\unitlength
\usebox
\usecounter
\uwave: Creates wavy underline. Requires ulem package. See Formatting.

[edit] V

\value
\vbox{text}: Encloses a paragraph's text to prevent it from running over a page break
\vdots: Creates vertical dots. See Mathematics.
\vector
\verb: Creates inline verbatim text. See Formatting.
\vfill
\vline
\vphantom
\vspace

This page uses material from Dr. Sheldon Green's Hypertext Help with LaTeX.

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