LaTeX: Inserting spaces - how to do it

For an orthographically correct text you need to know how to insert spaces in LaTeX. Since LaTeX is a more visually appealing alternative than other word processing programs, you should know how to use the essential commands. LaTeX works a little differently in this regard.

This is how spaces work in LaTeX

There are several ways through which you can integrate spaces into LaTeX, both in body text and in a mathematical environment.

1. Through / you insert a normal space into the text.
2. ~ represents the command for a wrap-protected space, which you can integrate in a mathematical environment as well as in a continuous text.
3. If you type /entspace, you get a space with the length of 0.5em.
4. If you type /quad, you insert a space with the length of 1em.
5. /qquad is the command if you want to include a space with the length of 2em in a text or mathematical environment.
6. If you need an individual length for your space, you have to enter the command /hspace(length). Keep in mind that LaTeX measures lengths in em.
7. The size em corresponds to the width of a geve of the print. Keep in mind the size of the capital letter M and you know how big an em is.

Why so complicated?

Now you are surely wondering why you can't just put classic spaces one after the other to produce the appropriate length in LaTeX. However, LaTeX cannot recognize this, because this command is not stored. Because of this you have to use one of the commands listed above.