[OS X TeX] automatic superscript braces in TeXShop editor

[Ross Moore]

Hello Don,

On 13/03/2012, at 11:18 AM, Don Green Dragon wrote:

> Hi Michael,
> 
> Sorry for the long delay, but it took me a while to get around to applying your suggestion about the package `xspace'. I assumed that all that was necessary was the inclusion of 
> 
> \usepackage{xspace}

This then defines a command  \xspace ,
which you use can as follows:

 \newcommand{\NN}{\ensuremath{\mathbb{N}}\xspace}


> 
> in the preamble. But that did not work! So 
> 
> The set of natural number \N is not

Please do *not* define single-letter commands for your own
macros. There are many with already have a meaning in TeX,
or (La)TeX with system-wide packages loaded for supporting
particular accents, languages and character sets.
e.g.
  \B  \C  \G  \H  \L  \M  \O  \P  \S  \T  \U 
and maybe some others.
Even more of the lowercase ones have a meaning.

Why does this matter?
Think about collaborating with a foreign author,
or just requiring to typeset an author's name, affiliation
or foreign title, within a bibliography entry.



Using  \NN  is better, in that the name conveys the
"double-struck" aspect of the symbol that you want it for.

However, you still need to be careful of \AA  and  \SS
and maybe some others.

> 
> typesets as shown below after my sign off. Other examples behaved the same way. Wondering if I have misinterpreted what you intended!!!

>> I would recommend the package xspace here.
>> 
>> Then you get the spacing done correctly, removing the need for \ in some places and not in others.
> 
> Don Green Dragon
> fergdc at Shaw.ca


Hope this helps,

	Ross

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Ross Moore                                       ross.moore at mq.edu.au 
Mathematics Department                           office: E7A-419      
Macquarie University                             tel: +61 (0)2 9850 8955
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