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.)

#

 * / : 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. ../Colors
 * \copyright : makes &copy; 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 &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.

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 <tt>ulem</tt> package. See Formatting.
 * \underbrace
 * \underline
 * \unitlength
 * \usebox
 * \usecounter
 * \uwave : Creates wavy underline. Requires <tt>ulem</tt> 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