I get different spacing results when I define a \hspace directly or as a macro.
Directly:
\documentclass{article}
\title{Title}
\author{Daniel Domingues \hspace{0.2cm}$\diamond$\hspace{0.2cm} Ricardo Cruz \hspace{0.2cm}$\diamond$\hspace{0.2cm} Rui d'Orey}
\begin{document}
\maketitle
\end{document}
As a macro:
\documentclass{article}
\def\whatever{\hspace{0.2cm}$\diamond$\hspace{0.2cm}}
\title{Title}
\author{Daniel Domingues \whatever Ricardo Cruz \whatever Rui d'Orey}
\begin{document}
\maketitle
\end{document}
It looks better when I use \hspace directly without the macro. Why is that?
\whateveris absorbed as the terminator for the macro name so does not make a token. the space character after}does make a token so produces a word space in addition to the stated space of .2cm. – David Carlisle Apr 19 '15 at 10:21\hspace, looking at the source you might think there was .2cm of white space but theres \hspace{.2cm} Rproduces one inter-word space, .2cm space and one more inter-word space. – David Carlisle Apr 19 '15 at 10:23\authorinstruction as\author{Daniel Domingues\whatever Ricardo Cruz\whatever Rui d'Orey}-- note: no space before the two instances of\whatever-- and you'll less, but more even, spacing. OTOH, if you want more (as well as more even) spacing, write\author{Daniel Domingues \whatever\ Ricardo Cruz \whatever Rui d'Orey}. – Mico Apr 19 '15 at 10:24