LaTeX: Insert tilde - how to set the character

Both for mathematical equations and for various commands in LaTeX, you need to know how to set a tilde. You will need the diacritical mark, which is represented as a serpentine line, in various places if you want to work successfully with LaTeX.

How to insert a tilde

As with most work with LaTeX, you need an appropriate command to insert a tilde.

1. You will have noticed that you can simply type the tilde as usual, but this does not preserve the tilde for you in a continuous text or mathematical environment.
2. This is because LaTeX has reserved the character for a wrap-protected space.
3. For a tilde to be used in a mathematical environment, you must use the $/tilde()$ command.
4. If you want the tilde to appear above a letter to clarify the pronunciation, you must use $/tilde(a)$. In doing so, replace the letter a with the desired letter.
5. If you want to place a tilde over multiple letters, select the command $/widetilde(abc)$.
6. If you want the tilde to be in the body text, you can apply either /textasciitilde or/~{}.

Keep track

It is important that you use the command that is intended for each application in LaTeX. Otherwise, the formatting will not be correct and other errors may creep in. Therefore, it is advisable that you compile the appropriate commands for different projects. By repeating them, the commands will quickly become automated.