Received: by nummer-3.proteosys id <01C19443.9E62E91C@nummer-3.proteosys>; Thu, 3 Jan 2002 11:44:28 +0100 Return-Path: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C19443.9E62E91C" x-vm-v5-data: ([nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil][nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil nil]) X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft Exchange V6.5 Content-class: urn:content-classes:message Subject: {1} Alternative names for \text Date: Tue, 3 Mar 1992 14:46:34 +0100 Message-ID: X-MS-Has-Attach: X-MS-TNEF-Correlator: From: Sender: "LaTeX-L Mailing list" To: "Multiple recipients of" Reply-To: "LaTeX-L Mailing list" Status: R X-Status: X-Keywords: X-UID: 605 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------_=_NextPart_001_01C19443.9E62E91C Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I don't claim to be clear about all aspects of the \text debate, but = would any of the following keep everybody happy? * If the only function of \text "for the ordinary user" is to allow a bit of ordinary typesetting within mathematics, call it \notmath = (or \nonmath) "for the ordinary LaTeX user", so as to signify "we're = coming out of maths mode for a short time". (In specialized style-files = for mathematicians, \notmath could have \text as a synonym, thus giving backwards compatibility with AMSTeX and AMS-LaTeX. Such = specialized people aren't likely to want to use \text for something else and, = in any case, \text is already well-documented for them in "The Joy of TeX", etc.) Thus: - $a_{\notmath{abc}}$ to be recognized by standard LaTeX - $a_{\text{abc}}$ to work the same as $a_{\notmath{abc}}$ in AMS-specific styles Alternatively, \ordinary (one more letter, but less likely to be spelled wrongly), i.e. - $a_{\ordinary{abc}}$ to be recognized by standard LaTeX - $a_{\text{abc}}$ to work the same as $a_{\ordinary{abc}}$ in AMS-specific styles * If \text is to have a function outside maths mode "for the ordinary user", give it a name that signifies its function. Would its = function be to generate unbreakable text at the correct size to fit in with its surroundings? If so, would something like \unbroken do as = a name? Then we'd have - $a_{\unbroken{abc}}$ to be recognized by standard LaTeX - $a_{\text{abc}}$ to work the same as $a_{\unbroken{abc}}$ in AMS-specific styles Alternatively \slug, by analogy with a Linotype slug (see picture = on page 601 of "Chicago Manual of Style" or page 59 of Williamson's "Methods of Book Design"), since \slug is shorter than \unbroken and is unlikely (?) to have been defined by the user. Problems: - its not quite a correct analogy. A Linotype slug is a complete line of text. - slug has two meanings. "The ordinary user" might wonder why a LaTeX command is named after a horrid slimy little creature. (German: Wegschneke, I think.) Or would \phrase be better? It hints at a short-ish group of words (which is how \text would get used for things like "higher order terms"). Thus: - $a_{\phrase{abc}}$ to be recognized by standard LaTeX - $a_{\text{abc}}$ to work the same as $a_{\phrase{abc}}$ in AMS-specific styles (Or would \phrase give potential problems for linguists, musicians, etc.?) David Rhead JANET: d.rhead@uk.ac.nottingham.vme.ccc ------_=_NextPart_001_01C19443.9E62E91C Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable {1} Alternative names for \text

I don't claim to be clear about all aspects of the = \text debate, but would
any of the following keep everybody happy?
*    If the only function of \text = "for the ordinary user" is to allow a
     bit of ordinary typesetting = within mathematics, call it \notmath (or
     \nonmath) "for the = ordinary LaTeX user", so as to signify "we're coming
     out of maths mode for a = short time".  (In specialized style-files for
     mathematicians, \notmath = could have \text as a synonym, thus giving
     backwards compatibility with = AMSTeX and AMS-LaTeX.  Such specialized
     people aren't likely to want = to use \text for something else and, in
     any case, \text is already = well-documented for them in "The Joy of
     TeX", etc.)  = Thus:
     - $a_{\notmath{abc}}$ to be = recognized by standard LaTeX
     - $a_{\text{abc}}$ to work = the same as $a_{\notmath{abc}}$ in
       AMS-specific = styles
     Alternatively, \ordinary = (one more letter, but less likely to be
     spelled wrongly), = i.e.
     - $a_{\ordinary{abc}}$ to be = recognized by standard LaTeX
     - $a_{\text{abc}}$ to work = the same as $a_{\ordinary{abc}}$ in
       AMS-specific = styles
*    If \text is to have a function = outside maths mode "for the ordinary
     user", give it a name = that signifies its function.  Would its function
     be to generate unbreakable = text at the correct size to fit in
     with its surroundings?  = If so, would something like \unbroken do as a
     name? Then we'd have
     - $a_{\unbroken{abc}}$ to be = recognized by standard LaTeX
     - $a_{\text{abc}}$ to work = the same as $a_{\unbroken{abc}}$ in
       AMS-specific = styles
     Alternatively \slug, by = analogy with a Linotype slug (see picture on
     page 601 of "Chicago = Manual of Style" or page 59 of Williamson's
     "Methods of Book = Design"), since \slug is shorter than \unbroken
     and is unlikely (?) to have = been defined by the user.  Problems:
     - its not quite a correct = analogy.  A Linotype slug is a complete
       line of = text.
     - slug has two = meanings.  "The ordinary user" might wonder why
       a LaTeX command = is named after a horrid slimy little creature.
       (German: = Wegschneke, I think.)
     Or would \phrase be = better?  It hints at a short-ish group of words
     (which is how \text would = get used for things like "higher order
     terms").  = Thus:
     - $a_{\phrase{abc}}$ to be = recognized by standard LaTeX
     - $a_{\text{abc}}$ to work = the same as $a_{\phrase{abc}}$ in
       AMS-specific = styles
     (Or would \phrase give = potential problems for linguists, musicians,
     etc.?)


David Rhead
JANET: d.rhead@uk.ac.nottingham.vme.ccc

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