LaTeX/Command Glossary

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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Contents
# 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

#

/: see slash marks
\@: following period ends sentence
\\[*][extra-space]: new line
\,: 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

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 Length
\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

B

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

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: Inserts a closing phrase (e.g. \closing{yours sincerely}), leaves space for a handwritten signature and inserts a signature specified by \signature{}. Used in the Letter class.
\color: Specifies color of the text. LaTeX/Colors
\copyright: makes © sign. See Formatting.

D

\dashbox
\date
\ddots: Inserts a diagonal ellipsis (3 diagonal dots) in math mode
\documentclass[options]{style}: Used to begin a latex document
\dotfill
\dfrac

E

\em: Toggles italics on/off for the text inside curly braces with the command. Such as {\em This is in italics \em but this isn't \em and this is again}. This command allows nesting.
\emph: Toggles italics on/off for the text in curly braces following the command e.g. \emph{This is in italics \emph{but this isn't} and this is again}.
\ensuremath (LaTeX2e): Treats everything inside the curly braces as if it were in a math environment. Useful when creating commands in the preamble as they will work inside or out of math environments.
\epigraph: Adds an epigraph. Requires epigraph package.
\euro: Prints euro € symbol. Requires eurosym package.

F

\fbox
\flushbottom
\fnsymbol
\footnote: Creates a footnote.
\footnotemark
\footnotesize: Sets font size. See Text Formatting.
\footnotetext
\frac: inserts a fraction in mathematics mode. The usage is \frac{numerator}{denominator}.
\frame
\framebox: Like \makebox but creates a frame around the box. See 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.

G

H

\hfill: Abbreviation for \hspace{\fill}.
\hline: adds a horizontal line in a tabular environment. See also \cline, Tables chapter.
\href: Add a link, or an anchor. See Hyperlinks
\hrulefill
\hspace: Produces horizontal space.
\huge: Sets font size. See Text Formatting.
\Huge: Sets font size. See Text Formatting.
\hyphenation{word list}: Overrides default hyphenation algorithm for specified words. See Hyphenation

I

\include: This command is different from \input in that it's the output that is added instead of the commands from the other files. For more see LaTex/Basics
\includegraphics: Inserts an image. Requires graphicx package.
\includeonly
\indent
\input: Used to read in LaTex files. For more see LaTex/Basics.
\itshape: Italicizes the text which is inside curly braces with the command. Such as {\itshape This is in italics}. \em is generally preferred since it allows nesting.
\item: Creates an item in a list. Used in list structures.

K

\kill: Prevent a line in the tabbing environment from being printed.

L

\label: Used to create label which can be later referenced with \ref. See Labels and Cross-referencing.
\large: Sets font size. See Text Formatting.
\Large: Sets font size. See Text Formatting.
\LARGE: Sets font size. See Text 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 Paragraph Formatting.
\linethickness
\linewidth
\listoffigures: Inserts a list of the figures in the document. Similar to TOC
\listoftables: Inserts a list of the tables in the document. Similar to TOC
\location

M

\makebox: Defines a box that has a specified width, independent from its content. See Boxes.
\maketitle: Causes the title page to be typeset, using information provided by commands such as \title{} and \author{}.
\markboth \markright
\mathcal
\mathop
\mbox: Write a text in roman font inside a math part
\medskip
\multicolumn
\multiput

N

\newcommand: Defines a new command. See New Commands.
\newcolumntype: Defines a new type of column to be used with tables. See Tables.
\newcounter
\newenvironment: Defines a new environment. See New Environments.
\newfont
\newlength
\newline: Ends current line and starts a new one. See Paragraph Formatting.
\newpage: Ends current page and starts a new one. See Page Layout.
\newsavebox
\newtheorem
\nocite: Adds a reference to the bibliography without an inline citation. \nocite{*} causes all entries in a bibtex database to be added to the bibliography.
\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 Text Formatting.
\nopagebreak: Suggests LaTeX not to break page in this place. See Page Layout.
\not

O

\onecolumn
\opening: Inserts an opening phrase when using the letter class, for example \opening{Dear Sir}
\oval
\overbrace: Draws a brace over the argument. Can be used in displaystyle with superscript to label formulae. See Advanced Mathematics.
\overline: Draws a line over the argument.

P

\pagebreak: Suggests LaTeX breaking page in this place. See Page Layout.
\pagenumbering: Defines the type of characters used for the page numbers. Options : arabic, roman, Roman, alph, Alph, gobble (invisible).
\pageref: Used to reference to number of page where a previously declared \label is located. See Floats, Figures and Captions.
\pagestyle: See Page Layout.
\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 Boxes.
\parindent: Normal paragraph indentation. See Lengths.
\parskip
\part: Starts a new part of a book. See Document Structure.
\protect
\providecommand (LaTeX2e): See Macros.
\put

Q

\quad: Similar to space, but with the size of a capital M
\qquad: double \quad

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/Boxes.
\ref: Used to reference to number of previously declared \label. See Labels and Cross-referencing.
\renewcommand
\right
\rmfamily: Roman typeface.
\roman: Causes a counter to be printed in roman numerals.
\rule: Creates a line of specified width and height. See LaTeX/Rules and Struts.

S

\savebox: Makes a box and saves it in a named storage bin.
\sbox: The short form of \savebox with no optional arguments.
\scshape: Small caps.
\scriptsize: Sets font size. See Text Formatting.
\section: Starts a new section. See Document Structure.
\setcounter
\setlength
\settowidth
\sffamily: Sans serif.
\shortstack
\signature: In the Letter class, specifies a signature for later insertion by \closing.
\slshape: Slanted.
\slash: See slash marks
\small: Sets font size. See Text Formatting.
\smallskip
\sout: Strikes out text. Requires ulem package. See Text Formatting.
\space: force ordinary space
\sqrt: Creates 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.
\stepcounter: Increase the counter.
\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.

T

\tableofcontents: Inserts a table of contents (based on section headings) at the point where the command appears.
\telephone: In the letter class, specifies the sender's telephone number.
\TeX: Prints TeX logo. See Text Formatting.
\textbf{}: Sets bold font style. See Text Formatting.
\textcolor{}{}: Creates colored text. See Entering colored text.
\textit{}: Sets italic font style. See Text Formatting.
\textmd{}: Sets medium weight of a font. See Text Formatting.
\textnormal{}: Sets normal font. See Text Formatting.
\textrm{}: Sets roman font family. See Text Formatting.
\textsc{}: Sets font style to small caps. See Text Formatting.
\textsf{}: Sets sans serif font family. See Text Formatting.
\textsl{}: Sets slanted font style. See Text Formatting.
\texttt{}: Sets typewriter font family. See Text Formatting.
\textup{}: Sets upright shape of a font. See Text Formatting.
\textwidth
\textheight
\thanks
\thispagestyle
\tiny: Sets font size. See Text Formatting.
\title
\today: Writes current day. See Text Formatting.
\ttfamily
\twocolumn
\typeout
\typein

U

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

V

\value
\vbox{text}: Encloses a paragraph's text to prevent it from running over a page break
\vcenter
\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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