Question #406

# How to insert spaces in LaTeX equations?

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The simplest way to insert spaces in LaTeX equations, it to use tilde ﻿~ to create a non breakable space. As an example, ﻿a~b displays ﻿﻿ .

For more specific spaces, here is a list of spaces and size in math unit (mu, equal to 1/18 em, where em is taken from the math symbols family):

• ﻿\quad space equal to the current font size (= 18 mu)
• ﻿\! negative space (-3/18 of \quand = -3 mu)
• ﻿\, narrow space (3/18 of  \quad = 3 mu)
• ﻿\: average space (4/18 of  \quad = 4 mu)
• ﻿\; wide space (5/18 of  = 5 mu)
• ﻿﻿\  (space after backlash) space in normal space
• ﻿~ non breakable space
• ﻿\qquad : wider space (double \quad)

Here is an example:

\begin{align}
f(x) =&  ax^2 \! + \! bx \! + \! c \\
f(x) =&  ax^2 + bx + c \\
f(x) =&  ax^2 \, + \, bx \, + \, c \\
f(x) =&  ax^2 \: + \: bx \: + \: c \\
f(x) =&  ax^2 \; + \: bx \; + \; c \\
f(x) =&  ax^2 \  + \  bx \  + \  c \\
f(x) =&  ax^2 ~ + ~ bx ~ + ~ c \\
\end{align}

The previous code displays:

﻿﻿

2 events in history
Answer by Alphonsio 12/07/2020 at 07:52:57 PM

The simplest way to insert spaces in LaTeX equations, it to use tilde ﻿~ to create a non breakable space. As an example, ﻿a~b displays ﻿﻿ .

For more specific spaces, here is a list of spaces and size in math unit (mu, equal to 1/18 em, where em is taken from the math symbols family):

• ﻿\quad space equal to the current font size (= 18 mu)
• ﻿\! negative space (-3/18 of \quand = -3 mu)
• ﻿\, narrow space (3/18 of  \quad = 3 mu)
• ﻿\: average space (4/18 of  \quad = 4 mu)
• ﻿\; wide space (5/18 of  = 5 mu)
• ﻿﻿\  (space after backlash) space in normal space
• ﻿~ non breakable space
• ﻿\qquad : wider space (double \quad)

Here is an example:

\begin{align}
f(x) =&  ax^2 \! + \! bx \! + \! c \\
f(x) =&  ax^2 + bx + c \\
f(x) =&  ax^2 \, + \, bx \, + \, c \\
f(x) =&  ax^2 \: + \: bx \: + \: c \\
f(x) =&  ax^2 \; + \: bx \; + \; c \\
f(x) =&  ax^2 \  + \  bx \  + \  c \\
f(x) =&  ax^2 ~ + ~ bx ~ + ~ c \\
\end{align}