math-mode
What is the proper way to typeset this set comprehension that has a lot of words in it? Is \textrm with manual spaces really the only way?
$$D = (S,
\{(a,b) \,|\, \exists s,x,y\in S^* \textrm{ and }
i < j \textrm{ such that }
w^i = sax \textrm{ and } w^j = sby\})$$
Try \varnothing from the amssymb package. It is perfectly round, and the comprehensive LaTeX symbol list states that it is preferred by many to \emptyset.
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amssymb}
\let\oldemptyset\emptyset
\let\emptyset\varnothing
\begin{document}
$\oldemptyset$ $\emptyset$
\end{document}
There is a new font, called New PX, which seems to resolve most issues.
This package is meant to be a replacement for Young Ryu’s pxfonts—a complete text and math package with roman text font provided by a Palatino clone, sans serif based on a Helvetica clone, typewriter faces, plus math symbol fonts whose math italic letters are from a Palatino Italic clone. As with the related txfonts (though not as severe) the math metrics in pxfonts are overly tight. The goal of this new project is use those existing glyphs along with a few additions and with completely reworked metrics which are generally looser, but not as loose as Computer Modern math. The following small examples (double normal size) provide some idea of the extent of the changes.
This package, based on pxfonts, provides many fixes and enhancements to that package, splitting it in two parts —newpxtext and newpxmath— which may be run independently of one another. It provides scaling, improved metrics, and other options. For proper operation, the packages require that the packages newtxmath and pxfonts be installed and their map files enabled.
Here is the CTAN download page.
Best Answer
With that answer, I'm concentrating on the "that has a lot of words in it" part on the question. The solution that is often used is
\text{...}with$...$snippets for the math parts inside of it, just as you would use in normal text mode. You example might then look like this: