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I want to define a command called \ksp{} that looks like this:

\newcommand*{\ksp}{K_{sp}}

However, this function gives an error if it's not invoked in math mode. See example here.

\documentclass{article}
\newcommand*{\ksp}{K_{sp}}
\begin{document}
  Determine the \ksp{} of xyz. This will give an error 
\end{document}

So, I modified the command to be inline math mode.

\newcommand*{\ksp}{$K_{sp}$}

However, this new version of the command gives an error if I invoke the function while already in math mode. See example here.

\documentclass{article}
\newcommand*{\ksp}{$K_{sp}$}
\begin{document}
    \begin{equation}
  Determine the \ksp{} of xyz. will get an error.
    \end{equation}
\end{document}

So, I made a newer version that tries to determine if we're already in math mode or not when the command is invoked. I pilfered this code from here

% Ksp
\newif\ifstartedinmathmode
\newcommand*{\ksp}{
    \relax\ifmmode\startedinmathmodetrue\else\startedinmathmodefalse\fi
    {\ifstartedinmathmode K_{sp}\else\hspace{0pt}$K_{sp}$\fi}
    }

This command (above) works under both conditions. However, it introduces an extra "space" in front of (and maybe after) the Ksp. You can see this in the document below.

\documentclass{article}
% Ksp
\newif\ifstartedinmathmode
\newcommand*{\ksp}{
    \relax\ifmmode\startedinmathmodetrue\else\startedinmathmodefalse\fi
    {\ifstartedinmathmode K_{sp}\else$K_{sp}$\fi}
}
\begin{document}
    \begin{enumerate}
        \item Determine the $K_{sp}$ of blahblah. \% this is the normal way of writing the term.
        \item Determine the \ksp{} of blahblah. \% this is with the conditional command and it has extra whitespace surrounding the term.    
    \end{enumerate}
\end{document}

enter image description here

Questions:

  • any way to fix the spacing issue?
  • should I be taking a completely different approach? I am simply trying to avoid typing some complicated formatting over and over again (Ksp is a simplification of the formatting that I'm actually trying to do, but it illustrates the point well enough).
Community
  • 1
pdanese
  • 365
  • 2
    With the first definition, use Determine the $\ksp$ of xyz. It's as easy as that. – egreg Apr 07 '16 at 13:52
  • 6
    you have added two spaces to your definition after the { and } but simpler is use \ensuremath{K_{sp}} but better really is just use K_{sp} and mark up math explicitly as for all standard latex math commands like \alpha or \sum. – David Carlisle Apr 07 '16 at 13:53
  • Very nicely written question. I liked how you went through the various permutations that brought you here. I answered assuming you want to leave an explicit space before and after your \ksp{} in text mode for code readability purposes. – A Feldman Apr 07 '16 at 15:25

1 Answers1

1

Simple answer. I put a negative \hskip on each side of your math.

    \documentclass{article}
% Ksp
\newif\ifstartedinmathmode
\newcommand*{\ksp}{
\relax\ifmmode\startedinmathmodetrue\else\startedinmathmodefalse\fi
{\ifstartedinmathmode K_{sp}\else\hskip-1mm$K_{sp}$\hskip-1mm\fi}
}
\begin{document}
    \begin{enumerate}
    \item Determine the $K_{sp}$ of blahblah. \% this is the normal way of writing the term.
    \item Determine the \ksp{} of blahblah. \% this is with the conditional command and it has extra whitespace surrounding the term.    
\end{enumerate}
\end{document}

Produces: enter image description here

However, a better answer, as shown in the comment by @David Carlisle would be:

\documentclass{article}
% Ksp

\newcommand*{\ksp}{\ensuremath$K_{sp}$}

\begin{document}
 \begin{enumerate}
  \item Determine the $K_{sp}$ of blahblah. \% this is the normal way of writing the term.
  \item Determine the \ksp{} of blahblah. \% this is with the conditional command and it has extra whitespace surrounding the term.    
\end{enumerate}
\end{document}

Produces: enter image description here

A Feldman
  • 3,930