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.)
# (Symbols)
\
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. See LaTeX/Colors
\copyright
makes © sign. See Special Characters.
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 Fonts.
\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
(no entries)
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 Fonts.
\Huge
Sets font size. See Fonts.
\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 Modular Documents
\includegraphics
Inserts an image. Requires graphicx package.
\includeonly
\indent
\input
Used to read in LaTeX files. For more see Modular Documents.
\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 Fonts.
\Large
Sets font size. See Fonts.
\LARGE
Sets font size. See Fonts.
\LaTeX
Prints LaTeX logo. See Text Formatting.
\LaTeXe
Prints current LaTeX version logo. See Text 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 Fonts.
\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
\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 Fonts.
\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 Fonts.
\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 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 Fonts.
\textcolor{}{}
Creates colored text. See Entering colored text.
\textit{}
Sets italic font style. See Fonts.
\textmd{}
Sets medium weight of a font. See Fonts.
\textnormal{}
Sets normal font. See Fonts.
\textrm{}
Sets roman font family. See Fonts.
\textsc{}
Sets font style to small caps. See Fonts.
\textsf{}
Sets sans serif font family. See Fonts.
\textsl{}
Sets slanted font style. See Fonts.
\texttt{}
Sets typewriter font family. See Fonts.
\textup{}
Sets upright shape of a font. See Fonts.
\textwidth
\textheight
\thanks
\thispagestyle
\tiny
Sets font size. See Fonts.
\title
\today
Writes current day. See Text Formatting.
\ttfamily
\twocolumn
\typeout
\typein
U
\uline
Underlines text. Requires ulem package. See Fonts.
\underbrace
\underline
\unitlength
\usebox
\usecounter
\uwave
Creates wavy underline. Requires ulem package. See Fonts.
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.