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How to Make Text Bold in LaTeX
Use \textbf{bold text} in normal text. In math, choose the command based on what you are bolding: \mathbf for Latin letters and digits, \boldsymbol or \bm for Greek letters and other math symbols.
Quick answer
Write \textbf{bold text}. For a bold vector x, write $\mathbf{x}$. For a bold Greek vector such as α, load bm and write $\bm{\alpha}$.
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:
Bold in Math Mode
For Latin letters and digits in mathematical expressions, use \mathbf{}. It is useful for vectors and matrices, but it does not bold most Greek letters or operators:
For Greek letters and general symbols, load bm and use \bm{}. The \boldsymbol{} command from amsmath is another standard option.
Common Use Cases
| Command | Use Case | Mode |
|---|---|---|
\textbf | Regular text emphasis | Text mode |
\mathbf | Bold Latin letters and digits | Math mode |
\boldsymbol | Greek letters and math symbols (amsmath) | Math mode |
\bm | Bold symbols (requires bm package) | Math mode |
Why is my LaTeX text not bold?
\mathbf{\alpha}does not bold α because\mathbfselects a bold Roman math alphabet. Use\bm{\alpha}instead.\textbfinside math mode is for embedded text, not mathematical variables. Use the appropriate math command.- If
\bmis undefined, add\usepackage{bm}in the preamble.
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
How to Make Text Bold in LaTeX
Use \textbf{bold text} in normal text. In math, choose the command based on what you are bolding: \mathbf for Latin letters and digits, \boldsymbol or \bm for Greek letters and other math symbols.
Quick answer
Write \textbf{bold text}. For a bold vector x, write $\mathbf{x}$. For a bold Greek vector such as α, load bm and write $\bm{\alpha}$.
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:
Bold in Math Mode
For Latin letters and digits in mathematical expressions, use \mathbf{}. It is useful for vectors and matrices, but it does not bold most Greek letters or operators:
For Greek letters and general symbols, load bm and use \bm{}. The \boldsymbol{} command from amsmath is another standard option.
Common Use Cases
| Command | Use Case | Mode |
|---|---|---|
\textbf | Regular text emphasis | Text mode |
\mathbf | Bold Latin letters and digits | Math mode |
\boldsymbol | Greek letters and math symbols (amsmath) | Math mode |
\bm | Bold symbols (requires bm package) | Math mode |
Why is my LaTeX text not bold?
\mathbf{\alpha}does not bold α because\mathbfselects a bold Roman math alphabet. Use\bm{\alpha}instead.\textbfinside math mode is for embedded text, not mathematical variables. Use the appropriate math command.- If
\bmis undefined, add\usepackage{bm}in the preamble.
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
Getting Started
Text Formatting
Mathematical Expressions
Document Structure
Page Layout
Accessibility
Errors & Troubleshooting