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I'm new to LaTeX and trying to understand the reason why I'm getting the warning:

`h' float specifier changed to `ht'

I'm not attempting to change the float property of anything - the warning is showing up if I attempt to simply encapsulate some words in quotation marks:

``highly distributed''

As far as I'm aware, there's no open sections anywhere and the file seems to render properly. So realistically it doesn't matter if the issue gets solved or not; but I'd like to know the reason I'm getting the warning.

Thanks in advance.

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I was not able to create an example that reproduced this warning due to quotation usage. The LaTeX source I tried compiling can be found here. Could you distil a minimal example that reproduces the behavior and post it? – Sharpie Aug 11 '10 at 2:31
@Sharpie - you're right. From your example and looking at the log file for my file it doesn't look like my ''highly distributed'' line is the issue. There was a figure that had a float specified which I must have included from elsewhere. I've removed that and thus silenced the warning too. Thanks for your help. – Geodesic Aug 11 '10 at 4:19
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No problem. A good maxim to remember is "If you see hoofprints in your code, think horses not zebras". I.E.: it is possible LaTeX is yanking your chain but more probably that the error really does have to do with a float and not a quotation mark. – Sharpie Aug 11 '10 at 5:34

1 Answer

up vote 16 down vote accepted

Youd did not change the float specifier, LaTeX did that for you and informed you. The reason is, that you provided just the optional placement argument h or !h for a float (figure or table), but the float didn't fit on the current page. It had to be put on top of the next page, corresponding to a placement argument t.

I recommend to use at least ht as positioning argument. If you mean "exactly here", then use the argument H of the float package or one of the possibilities listed here: Prevent floating of figures or tables.

Often it's satifsying to specify all possible placement options !htbp, so still letting the figures and tables float.

h means here allowed, t means top, b means bottom, p means on a float-page, ! means try harder! to place it earlier.

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Thanks Stefan, I learnt all of that soon after I looked into Sharpie's response. What threw me was the error stating 'h was changed; so when I searched my text for it, only the result was my 'highly ... line. Your response elucidates the entire problem space for n00b like me, so hopefully it helps out other beginners in the future too. – Geodesic Aug 11 '10 at 23:30

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