[texhax] Characters out of margin

[Herbert Schulz]

On Feb 23, 2012, at 8:26 AM, Eric Weir wrote:

> 
> On Feb 23, 2012, at 12:44 AM, Donald Arseneau wrote:
> 
>> Eric Weir <eeweir at bellsouth.net> writes:
>> 
>>> \tolerance 1414
>>> \hbadness 1414
>>> \emergencystretch 1.5em
>>> \hfuzz 0.3pt
>> 
>> Yes, these parameters can be tweaked individually, but if you are a beginner
>> or intermediate use I recommend simply "\sloppy", which is LaTeX's encapsulation
>> of settings to prevent "overfull hbox in paragraph" errors.  You don't mention
>> your language settings for hyphenation of words, and that may be the critical 
>> problem.  Both the tolerances and the hyphenation are subjects in the UKtug 
>> TeX FAQ:
>> 
>> http://www.tex.ac.uk/cgi-bin/texfaq2html?label=overfull
>> 
>> http://www.tex.ac.uk/cgi-bin/texfaq2html?label=nohyph
> 
> Thanks for the references, Don. Unfortunately, my newbieness is so new the implications are a bit hazy.
> 
> A FAQ on how hyphenation works linked to from the second link above has this: "The ordinary LaTeX user need not worry about \language, since it is very thoroughly managed by the babelpackage; use of \hyphenation is discussed in the context of hyphenation failure." 
> 
> The page on hyphenation failure alludes to a possible need to install new hyphenation patterns. I have the MacTeX version of TeX Live. If American English is my language, is it likely that I need to be concerned about having the wrong hyphenation rules specified?
> 
> It also says this: "The \hyphenation command allows you to give explicit instructions." I'm taking it this would be to a specific instance of hyphenation failure?
> 
> Finally, would I use "\sloppy" in place of the commands listed above or in addition to them.   
> 
> ...

Howdy,

You should not have any hyphenation problems with American English. It also has nothing to do with the Mac since MacTeX installs a standard, full TeX Live.

Is there any way you could supply a minimal but compilable sample file that demonstrates your problem? 

Good Luck,

Herb Schulz
(herbs at wideopenwest dot com)