algorithmsampersandsymbols
How to make a "normal" looking ampersand symbol within the algorithm environment?
I'm using \& but this results in a strange looking character as shown below:
Here is a minimal example how I use the ampersand
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\usepackage[ruled,linesnumbered]{algorithm2e}
\begin{document}
\begin{algorithm}[H]
\If{$b$ \& $0x01$} {
$p \leftarrow p \oplus a$\;
}
\end{algorithm}
\end{document}
It's not a mathematical symbol, it's definitely a capital S, but in cursive. That's how it usually appears when you write by hand and in some fonts, depending on the style, it really looks like a flipped ampersand.
If you go to any website that provides fonts, search for "cursive font", and type a capital S. Some of them will look like the letter you posted.
The problem is always to output all the row before TeX “sees” &. It's easy with expl3, with \seq_use:Nn, that delivers its result “at once”.
The \tabhead command has an optional argument for the formatting command, default \bfseries. It splits its argument at &, then adds the optional argument before items, separating them with &, with a trailing \\.
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{xparse}
\ExplSyntaxOn
\NewDocumentCommand{\tabhead}{ O{\bfseries} m }
{
\seq_set_split:Nnn \l_tmpa_seq { & } { #2 }
#1 \seq_use:Nn \l_tmpa_seq { & #1 } \\
}
\ExplSyntaxOff
\begin{document}
\begin{table}[htp]
\centering
\caption{Command / Purposes}
\begin{tabular}{|p{0.3\textwidth}|p{0.6\textwidth}|}
\hline
\tabhead{Command & Purpose}
\hline
cd & change directory \\
rm & remove files \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\bigskip
\begin{tabular}{|p{0.3\textwidth}|p{0.6\textwidth}|}
\hline
\tabhead[\itshape]{Command & Purpose}
\hline
cd & change directory \\
rm & remove files \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{table}
\end{document}
Best Answer
That's just how an italic ampersand looks in Computer Modern, the font you're using. If you don't like it, force it to be upright:
\textup{\&}. Alternatively, you can use\textsl{\&}to get a slanted look, which is like the upright version, but skewed to look similar to italic text: