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## Naming conventions

- Math alphabet commands all start with `\math...`: examples are `\mathbf`, `\mathcal`, etc.
- The text font changing commands with arguments all start with `\text...`: e.g. `\textbf` and `\textrm`. The exception to this is `\emph`, since it occurs very commonly in author documents and so deserves a shorter name.
- Names for encoding schemes are strings of up to three letters (all upper case) plus digits.

  The LATEX3 project reserves the use of encodings starting with the following letters: `T` (standard 256-long text encodings), `TS` (symbols that are designed to extend a corresponding `T` encoding), `X` (text encodings that do not conform to the strict requirements for `T` encodings), `M` (standard 256-long math encodings), `S` (other symbol encodings), `A` (other special applications), `OT` (standard 128-long text encodings) and `OM` (standard 128-long math encodings).

  Please do not use the above starting letters for non-portable encodings. If new standard encodings emerge then we shall add them in a later release of LATEX.

  Encoding schemes which are local to a site or a system should start with `L`, experimental encodings intended for wide distribution will start with `E`, whilst `U` is for Unknown or Unclassified encodings..

- Font family names should contain up to five lower case letters. Where possible, these should conform to the Filenames for fonts font naming scheme.
- Font series names should contain up to four lower case letters.
- Font shapes should contain up to two letters lower case.
- Names for symbol fonts are built from lower and upper case letters with no restriction.

Whenever possible, you should use the series and shape names suggested in The LaTeX Companion since this will make it easier to combine new fonts with existing fonts. Where possible, text symbols should be named as `\text` followed by the Adobe glyph name: for example `\textonequarter` or `\textsterling`. Similarly, math symbols should be named as `\math` followed by the glyph name, for example `\mathonequarter` or `\mathsterling`. Commands which can be used in text or math can then be defined using `\ifmmode`, for example:

       \DeclareRobustCommand{\pounds}{%
          \ifmmode \mathsterling \else \textsterling \fi
       }

Note that commands defined in this way must be robust, in case they get put into a section title or other moving argument.

Next: If you need to Up: Miscellanea Previous: Accented characters