9

In the following output, why do I get the undesired space before the (, and how to get rid of it globally?
Here is my code: 

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
\begin{align*}
&a=b\\
&\left(a\right)=b
\end{align*}
\end{document}

enter image description here

David Carlisle
  • 757,742
Vahid Damanafshan
  • 6,925

1 Answers1

5

The align enviroment always starts the second column (and all even numbered ones) with an empty object, because usually one starts these columns with a relation symbol and the empty object guarantees correct spacing.

The math mode spacing rules, however, tell that between an ordinary symbol (the empty object, in this case) and an Inner atom (the subformula delimited by \left and \right) a thin space is inserted.

This is a good example showing why \left and \right should not be used in general, but only when they really serve a purpose.

There is a workaround, anyway:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath,mleftright}
\begin{document}
\begin{align*}
&a=b\\
&\mleft(a\mright)=b
\end{align*}
\end{document}

enter image description here

This is however not a good reason to use indiscriminately \mleft and \mright. For instance,

\[
\mleft(\sum_{i=1}^{n} a_i\mright)
\]

is significantly worse than

\[
\biggl(\sum_{i=1}^{n} a_i\biggr)
\]

enter image description here

David Carlisle
  • 757,742
egreg
  • 1,121,712
  • 1
    @egreg thanks, but in your MWE, there is still a thin space before the (! One more thing: Why is \mleft worse than \biggl? – Vahid Damanafshan Jan 12 '13 at 19:14
  • 1
    @egreg. I'm curious, you say your example with \mleft is significantly worse than that with \biggl. That's the opposite conclusion I was expecting from you (though I do agree with about not indiscriminately using \mleft). Do you care to explain why you feel your \mleft example is worse in your eyes? – A.Ellett Jan 12 '13 at 19:19
  • @VahidDamanafshan and A.Ellet I don't know if this is what he means, but in my case is worse because it doesn't look good (it's too bigger, in that case, and the correct size, to my eyes, is the second one, which has to be written manually). – Manuel Jan 12 '13 at 19:20
  • @VahidDamanafshan The tiny space is due to the shape of the parenthesis; just try without \mleft and \mright and you'll have the very same result. You can say \mleftright in the preamble; then \left will mean \mleft and \right will be \mright. – egreg Jan 12 '13 at 20:10
  • @A.Ellett I think that just looking at the two typeset formulas shows that the \biggl-\biggr version is better than the \left-\right one, which has too tall delimiters. – egreg Jan 12 '13 at 20:15