[Tex/LaTex] Which one is it: a4paper or paper=a4

document-classeskoma-scriptpaper-size

I'm using XeLaTeX mostly, and I never know what to put into \documentclass[]{}.
Usually I use something like \documentclass[a4paper, 11pt]{scrartcl}. But I never know whether it's a4paper or paper=a4. I believe it has something to do the documentclass I'm using.

I need the paper selection for the KoMa-Classes, scrartcl, scrbook, scrreprt, as well as g-brief2, dinbrief, etc.

There is a plethora of sources on the internet, and while one source says paper=a4, another says a4paper. I need clarification on this one.

Best Answer

The syntax paper=a4 is exclusive of the KoMa-Script classes, that is, scrartcl, scrbook, scrreprt and scrlettr.

No other class or package that I know of accepts it: the only notable exception is, of course, the package typearea, which is part of the KoMa-Script bundle, to which the paper size options given to the KoMa-Script classes are deferred.

However, typearea.sty says also

\KOMA@DeclareStandardOption[typearea]{a4paper}{paper=a4}

so that a4paper as global option is recognized.

My preference would be to always use a4paper. While I see virtues in KoMa-Script approach, it's non standard.

Notice that g-brief.cls uses only A4 paper, while dinbrief uses it by default, so for these two classes you can avoid specifying the option. Also scrlettr uses A4 paper by default.

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