Inserting a special letter in LaTex

Question

A quick question: Is there a way to insert in LaTex a lowercase z, inside $$, with an additional horizontal line between the two existed parallel lines? The desired letter (symbol) looks like

Any suggestions?

You could rescale the uppercase Z to an lowercase symbol:Scale lowercase symbol to uppercase height. If your uppercase Z contains (three horizontal lines) this could be an option. — Bobyandbob, Nov 08 '17 at 14:26

Schweinebacke · Answer 1 · 2017-11-08T15:14:45.230

3

I would recommend to use a font, that provides such a character. But if you want, you can fake it:

\documentclass{article}
\newcommand*{\specialz}{z\kern\mbox{-}.37em-\relax}
\begin{document}
z vs. \specialz

\large z vs. \specialz

\Large z vs. \specialz

\LARGE z vs. \specialz

\huge z vs. \specialz

\Huge z vs. \specialz

\normalsize
\sffamily

z vs. \specialz

\large z vs. \specialz

\Large z vs. \specialz

\LARGE z vs. \specialz

\huge z vs. \specialz

\Huge z vs. \specialz

\normalfont\normalsize But avoid: $\specialz_{\specialz}$
\end{document}

However, this solution is font depending and the math mode should be handled separately. So again: Better use a font that provides the wanted symbol.

edited Nov 08 '17 at 15:14

answered Nov 08 '17 at 14:41

Schweinebacke

26,336

Nice, but what if I want the symbol inside $$? If I use $\specilaz$ then the addiitonal lines is too long. – Vaggelis_Z Nov 08 '17 at 14:52
@Vaggelis_Z As I've said: It is font depending! I don't know the fonts you are using! However, use another horizontal bar, e.g., \mbox{-} or are \rule or … But better: Use a font, that provides the wanted symbol! – Schweinebacke Nov 08 '17 at 15:08
I don't know of any fonts that provide such symbol. Do you? – Vaggelis_Z Nov 08 '17 at 15:11
@Vaggelis_Z Do you want all lowercase z with middle line or only some? – Schweinebacke Nov 08 '17 at 15:15
Not all of them. – Vaggelis_Z Nov 08 '17 at 15:18

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 08 '17 at 15:20

You could use \ooalign to overlay a rule on the z in math or text mode.

\documentclass{article}

\newcommand{\mathz}{\ooalign{$z$\cr\hfil\rule[.5ex]{.2em}{.06ex}\hfil\cr}}
\newcommand{\textz}{\ooalign{z\cr\hfil\rule[.5ex]{.2em}{.1ex}\hfil\cr}}

\begin{document}
z\textz$z\mathz$
\end{document}

You can adjust the length (.2em), height (.5ex) and thickness (.06ex in math or .1ex in text) of the rule to your liking. Note the em and ex units so the rule will adjust with the size of the character (e.g., using scriptsize).

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 08 '17 at 15:29

Draw a rule across the letter, at mid height.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\makeatletter
\newcommand{\cz}{% crossed z
  \mathord{\mathpalette\vaggelis@z{z}}%
}
\newcommand{\cZ}{% crossed Z
  \mathord{\mathpalette\vaggelis@z{Z}}%
}
\newcommand{\vaggelis@z}[2]{%
  \sbox\z@{$\m@th#1#2$}%
  \ooalign{%
    $\m@th#1#2$\cr
    \hidewidth
    \vrule height \dimexpr.5\ht\z@+0.03ex\relax
           depth -\dimexpr.5\ht\z@-0.03ex\relax
           width .5\wd\z@
    \hidewidth\cr
  }%
  \vphantom{\box\z@}
}
\makeatother

\begin{document}

$\cz+z_{\cz}<\cZ+Z_{\cZ}$

\Huge

$\cz+z_{\cz}<\cZ+Z_{\cZ}$

\end{document}

Inserting a special letter in LaTex

3 Answers3