LaTeX normally chooses the appropriate font and font size based on the logical structure of the document (e.g. sections). In some cases, you may want to set fonts and sizes by hand.
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The syntax to set a font size or font style is easy:
This is a simple example, {\tiny this will show different font sizes} and also \textsc{different font styles}.
This example shows how to use the smallest available font (tiny) in LaTeX and the small caps style.
Font sizes are identified by special names, the actual size is not absolute but relative to the font size declared in the \documentclass
statement (see Creating a document in LaTeX).
In this example the {\huge huge font size} is set and the {\footnotesize Foot note size also}. There's a fairly large set of font sizes.
In the example, {\huge huge font size}
declares that the text inside the braces must be formatted in a huge font size. For a complete list of available font sizes see the reference guide.
By default, in standard LaTeX classes the serif typeface (a.k.a. roman) font is used. The other font typefaces (sans serif and typewriter, a.k.a. monospace) can be used by entering some specific commands
In this example command and switches are used. \texttt{A command is used to change the style of a sentence} \sffamily A switch changes the style from this point to the end of the document unless other switch is used
You can set up the use of sans font as a default in LaTeX document by using the command:
\renewcommand{\familydefault}{\sfdefault}
Similarly, for using roman font as a default:
\renewcommand{\familydefault}{\rmdefault}
The most common font styles in LaTeX are bold, italics and underlined, but there are a few more.
In the example at the introduction the small caps style was used. In this case the \textsl
command sets the slanted style which makes the text look a bit like italics but not quite. See the reference guide for a complete list of font styles.
If you want to go back to "normal" font style (default for the LaTeX class you are using), this can be done by using the \textnormal{...}
command or the \normalfont
switch command.
Font sizes
Command | Output |
---|---|
\tiny | ![]() |
\scriptsize | ![]() |
\footnotesize | ![]() |
\small | ![]() |
\normalsize | ![]() |
\large | ![]() |
\Large | ![]() |
\LARGE | ![]() |
\huge | ![]() |
\Huge | ![]() |
Default font families
Font styles
For more information see: