Punctuation in LaTeX formulas

latex punctuation
Olivier Verdier picture Olivier Verdier · Feb 10, 2010 · Viewed 7.6k times · Source

It seems to be common practice, when writing mathematics, to add punctuation to displayed formulas.

Is there any trick to avoid putting the punctuation mark inside the formula?

I want to avoid

Consider the function
\[ \sin(x).\]

I'd rather have something like:

Consider the function
\[ \sin(x)\].

But of course the full stop is displayed below the formula.

Is there a clever way to separate formulas and punctuation in LaTeX?

Answer

Alexey Malistov picture Alexey Malistov · Feb 10, 2010 
\catcode`\@=11 
\let\seveendformula\]
\def\]{\@ifnextchar.\PointAndEndFormula\seveendformula}
\def \PointAndEndFormula #1{.\seveendformula}
\catcode`\@=12

Add

More complex solution works with .,?!;: : 

\catcode`\@=11 
\def\addtopunct#1{\expandafter\let\csname punct@\meaning#1\endcsname\let}
\addtopunct{.}    \addtopunct{,}    \addtopunct{?}
\addtopunct{!}    \addtopunct{;}    \addtopunct{:}

\let\seveendformula\]
\def\PunctAndEndFormula #1{#1\seveendformula}
\def\]{\futurelet\punctlet\checkpunct@i}
\def\checkpunct@i{\expandafter\ifx\csname punct@\meaning\punctlet\endcsname\let  
       \expandafter\PunctAndEndFormula 
       \else \expandafter\seveendformula\fi}
\catcode`\@=12

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