Mathematical Expressions
Document Structure
How to Make Text Bold in LaTeX
Making text bold in LaTeX is a fundamental formatting technique used to emphasize important words or phrases. This guide covers all the different methods to create bold text in both regular text mode and mathematical expressions.
Basic Text Formatting
To make text bold in LaTeX, use the \textbf command. Place the text you want to make bold inside the curly braces:
\ extbf{bold text}
The \textbf command works in regular text mode and automatically handles spacing and punctuation correctly.
Bold in Math Mode
For mathematical expressions, use the \mathbf command. This is particularly useful for vectors and matrices:
y = m \mathbf{x} + b
Common Use Cases
| Command | Use Case | Mode |
|---|---|---|
\textbf | Regular text emphasis | Text mode |
\mathbf | Vectors and matrices | Math mode |
\bm | Bold symbols (requires bm package) | Math mode |
Best Practices
- Use bold text sparingly to maintain its effectiveness for emphasis
- Choose the appropriate command based on whether you're in text mode or math mode
- Consider using the
bmpackage for complex mathematical expressions that need bold formatting - Maintain consistency in your use of bold text throughout the document