Writing a macro that works both in math formula and text

Question

Can I write one macro that works conditioned on it is in math formula or not?

For example, assume I have an algorithm named "alg1" and I want the name to be in \mathsf so normally I define two macros as follows: 1) \def\a{\mathsf{alg1}} and 2) \def\b{$\mathsf{alg1}$}. One is for when I want to use "alg1" name in a math formula and the other one is for when I want to use the name in a text environment.

So is there a way to write one macro for both applications?

I went through similar thinking when I started with LaTeX as well: When not to use \ensuremath for math macro? — Peter Grill, Jan 03 '22 at 19:12
See, besides the link posted by Peter, https://tex.stackexchange.com/a/35877/4427 https://tex.stackexchange.com/a/444671/4427 https://tex.stackexchange.com/a/289064/4427 — egreg, Jan 03 '22 at 20:46
People recommand \ensuremath. I don't. If in text-mode consecutive "\ensuremath-commands" occur, this will not be treated as a single math-formula but will be treated as different adjoining formulas. This will not necessarily look good. You need to have TeX enter math-mode, then to process subsequent "\ensuremath-commands", then to leave math-mode. But this way \ensuremath is obsolete. — Ulrich Diez, Jan 04 '22 at 18:07

score 6 · Accepted Answer · edited Jan 04 '22 at 00:11

6

Use \ensuremath:

\documentclass[border=3.141592]{standalone}
\newcommand{\HT}{\ensuremath{\mathcal{H}} }
\begin{document}
See \HT and $\HT$
\end{document}

Addendum: You may be interested in the following version in which \HT enabled by xspace package:

\documentclass[border=3.141592]{standalone}
\usepackage{xspace}
\newcommand{\HT}{\ensuremath{\mathcal{H}}\xspace}
\begin{document}
See \HT and $\HT$, and when at of the sentence is \HT.
\end{document}

edited Jan 04 '22 at 00:11

answered Jan 03 '22 at 14:38

Zarko

296,517

nice. It works :). thanks so much. – mike Jan 03 '22 at 15:09
Why the wrong braces? \ensuremath{\mathcal{H}} would be the syntax. – egreg Jan 03 '22 at 18:03
@egreg, you are right. Corrected now. – Zarko Jan 03 '22 at 18:27
@mike, see addendum to answer. – Zarko Jan 03 '22 at 20:40
@Zarko What are the advantages of second solution (using xspace) over the first solution? – mike Feb 02 '22 at 13:49
@mike, compare results of compiling sentence: See \HT and $\HT$, and when at of the sentence is \HT. with first and second definition of \HT. You should observe differences in space after \HT. – Zarko Feb 02 '22 at 14:21
@Zarko Ok, Thanks. – mike Feb 02 '22 at 17:42

Writing a macro that works both in math formula and text

1 Answers1