• Syntax: \left(...\right) or $...$
• Ex.: $$2a\left(b+c\right)$$ gives

$2a\left(b+c\right)$

• Syntax: \left.{...\right}  (note the dot!)
• Ex.: $$\left.{{\rm~term1\atop\rm~term2}\right}=y$$ gives

$\left.{{\rm~term1\atop\rm~term2}\right}=y$

(\rm~something switches to roman style)

• Synatx: \left[...\right]
• Ex.: $$\left[a,b\right]$$ gives $\left[a,b\right]$

• Syntax: \left|...\right|
• Ex.: $$\left|b-a\right|$$ gives $\left|b-a\right|$
• Ex.: $${\rm~det}\left|\begin{array}{cc}a&b\\c&d \end{array}\right|$$ gives  

${\rm~det}\left|\begin{array}{cc}a&b\\c&d \end{array}\right|$ 

 
("\rm~something" renders "something" in roman style)

• Ordinary whitespace to be used after a dot not denoting the end of a sentence
• After commands without parameters use \~ (tilde) instead in order to avoid browser specific problems

• \, inserts the smallest predefined space in a formula
• Equivalent: \hspace{2}
• Ex.: $$a\,b$$ gives $a\,b$
• Ex.: $$a~\hspace{2}~b$$ gives also $a~\hspace{2}~b$

• \; (backslash semicolon) inserts the third smallest predefined space in a formula
• Equivalent: \hspace{6}
• Ex.: $$a\;b$$ gives $a\;b$
• Ex.: $$a~\hspace{6}~b$$ gives also $a~\hspace{6}~b$

• \: inserts the second smallest predefined space in a formula
• Equivalent: \hspace{4}
• Ex.: $$a\:b$$ gives $a\:b$
• Ex.: $$a~\hspace{4}~b$$ gives also $a~\hspace{4}~b$

• \/ (backslash slash) avoids ligatures
• Ex.: $$V\/A$$ gives $V\/A$ in contrast to $$VA$$ which gives $VA$

• In order to prevent some browser specific problems with whitespaces, it is advisable to use ~ (tilde) as the whitespace instead of the normal blank key (in places where whitespaces are mandatory, e.g. after commands).
• Ex.: $$\frac~xy$$ to produce $\frac~xy$
• Ex.: $$\sqrt~n$$ to produce $\sqrt~n$