How to typeset a thematic break?

Question

In HTML5, the <hr> tag defines a thematic break. How can I do this in Latex? I would prefer a semantic solution.

Answer 1

You can write your own command:

\newcommand{\thematicbreak}{\par\bigskip}

If you want a horizontal rule, decoration, asterism, etc., you can do that, too (as explained in Totally sweet horizontal rules in LaTeX). Here's a simple version:

\newcommand{\thematicbreak}{\begin{center}* * *\end{center}}

Or, following the default display of <hr> (which, let's be real, originated as an abbreviation for "horizontal rule"):

\newcommand{\thematicbreak}{\par\bigskip\noindent\hrulefill\par\bigskip}

<thematic break>

Full example:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{lipsum}
\newcommand{\thematicbreak}{\par\bigskip\noindent\hrulefill\par\bigskip}
\begin{document}

\lipsum[1]
\thematicbreak
\lipsum[2]

\end{document}

Answer 2

Here's a small code for an asterism I use from time to time:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}

\usepackage{lipsum}
\newcommand{\asterism}{%
\vspace{2.5ex}\par\noindent%
\parbox{\textwidth}{\centering{*}\\[-4pt]{*}\enspace{*}\vspace{2ex}}\par%
}

\begin{document}

\lipsum[2]
\asterism
\lipsum[3]

\end{document}