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I'm a new user of Latex and still trying to figure it out. Currently I have a problem where if I want to have a subscript which contains more than one letter, the spacing between the letters is too large. Namely, writing $\hat{\tau}_{eff}$ results in:

effective time constant estimate

What would be the best way to bring "eff" closer together?

MarkoF
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  • I think, eff should be in text mode, not in math mode, so \hat{\tau}_{\text{eff}} (requires amsmath or mathtools package ) –  Feb 09 '17 at 21:49
  • It definitely helps, but then I loose the nice italic effect. I can add it though with $\hat{\tau}_{\text{\textit{eff}}}$. Do you know what is the best practice when it comes to subscripts? – MarkoF Feb 09 '17 at 21:52
  • Use \mathit{eff} instead –  Feb 09 '17 at 21:55
  • _{\textit{eff}} is enough. However, I would not recommend it, as it is a bit confusional with italic variables in formulae. – Bernard Feb 09 '17 at 21:55
  • never use math italic for multi-letter words, whether or not in subscript, use _{\mathit{eff}} – David Carlisle Feb 09 '17 at 21:55
  • @David Carlisle:??? Your last comment seems self-contradictory, or do I not understand what you mean? – Bernard Feb 09 '17 at 21:57
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    The whole point of the design of the default math italic font is to make adjacent letters clearly not parts of a word, but look like a product of variables. \mathit is the test italic font, for use in math mode, which is designed for words. – David Carlisle Feb 09 '17 at 21:58
  • @Bernard \mathit does not select math italic, it selects text italic, in math, (and \textit by default will not get smaller in subscripts so it less useful here) – David Carlisle Feb 09 '17 at 21:59
  • \mathit{eff} solves both the kerning and italic issues. Thank you!

    By the way, since I'm also relatively new when it comes to questions and commenting on Stack Exchange, how do I mark a comment as correct answer?

     – MarkoF Feb 09 '17 at 22:00
  • @MarkoF: Comments are comments and no 'markable' answer, but I agree with David Carlisle: Don't use math italic for multiletter words. Subscripts should be not italic, in my point of view –  Feb 09 '17 at 22:02
  • @David Carlisle: When I use it, \textit in a subscript does get smaller. – Bernard Feb 09 '17 at 22:03
  • @Bernard you most likely have amsmath loaded – David Carlisle Feb 09 '17 at 22:04
  • Yes, or mathtools. Doesn't everyone use it? – Bernard Feb 09 '17 at 22:05
  • I meant multiletter subscripts shouldn't be used with italic font (the comment above is too old to edit and I am too lazy to copy again ;-)) –  Feb 09 '17 at 22:08

1 Answers1

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Christian Hupfer and David Carlisle pointed out that _{\mathit{eff}} command is the correct answer. It solves both the kerning issue and keep the word in italic.

MarkoF
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