# How to use itemize in Table environment

I want to create a table like the picture below, and i wish to itemize the lamba_1 > lamba_2 > 0 using 'item style', which is the cell of each categories. Can someone help me?

• Here's a hint: Use a p{<len>}-style column, and then you can use \begin{itemize}...\end{itemize}.
– Werner
Dec 18 '13 at 7:25
• Hi @Werner, u mean the \begin{tabular}[pos]{p{<len>}} smth like this? Dec 19 '13 at 4:43
• Yes. The proposed solution uses tabularx which calculates the width of the X-column itself, but is very similar to a p{<len>} (fixed-width, paragraph) column.
– Werner
Dec 19 '13 at 7:09
• Ypur diagram would be so much easier to understand with some small and simple drawings like these: twt.mpei.ac.ru/TTHB/New-Chem-Kin/ChemKin/3-19.PNG Jul 31 '17 at 12:15

For simplicity, I don't think you need to itemize the list. The MWE below uses \tabitem to set a fake item, letting you create the table in the regular way (also making the code more readable):

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{booktabs}% http://ctan.org/pkg/booktabs
\newcommand{\tabitem}{~~\llap{\textbullet}~~}
\begin{document}

\begin{table}
\centering
\begin{tabular}{lll}
\toprule
\multicolumn{3}{c}{Classification of the criticel point $(0,0)$ of $x' = Ax, |\mathbf{A}| \not= 0$.} \\[.5\normalbaselineskip]
Types & Type of Critical Point & Stability \\
\midrule
1.~Real unequal eigenvalues of same sign \\
\tabitem $\lambda_1 > \lambda_2 > 0$ & Improper node/node & Unstable \\
\tabitem $\lambda_1 < \lambda_2 < 0$ & Improper node/node & Asym.~stable \\[.5\normalbaselineskip]
2.~Real unequal eigenvalues of opposite sign \\
\tabitem $\lambda_2 < 0 > \lambda_1$ & Saddle point & Unstable \\[.5\normalbaselineskip]
3.~Equal eigenvalues \\ Subtype 1: Two Independent vectors \\
\tabitem $\lambda_1 = \lambda_2 > 0$ & Proper node & Unstable \\
\tabitem $\lambda_1 = \lambda_2 < 0$ & Proper node & Asym.~stable \\
\bottomrule
\end{tabular}
\end{table}

\end{document}


booktabs provides the supplemental tabular eye-candy.

• +1: This looks great and is minimalistic at the same time. Good job! Dec 19 '13 at 8:10
• But there's a problem which is the table will extend the margin of the paper if I type a longer word in the stability column, such as I change Asym.~stable to Asymptotically stable. Dec 24 '13 at 4:57
• @AndrewOoi: That's because all the columns are set as left-aligned. If you have such long items, use tabularx with its X-column in the one you want to break.
– Werner
Dec 24 '13 at 5:29
• Could you suggest a solution for multiline lists? The auto-justification seems to cause problems with the intending here. Mar 30 '16 at 11:18
• @crypdick: Double backslashes \\ underwent an arbitrary removal for posts prior to 2015. We're in the process of converting that. See Double backslashes disappear from code
– Werner
Feb 23 '17 at 19:36

When I had the same problem I solved it with tabularx. Here's the code for your example (I'm assuming the number in the 4th row should be 2):

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[textwidth = 155mm]{geometry}
\usepackage{tabularx}
\begin{document}

\begin{table}
\begin{tabularx}{\textwidth}{|>{\setlength\hsize{1.4\hsize}\setlength\linewidth{\hsize}}X|>{\setlength\hsize{.9\hsize}\setlength\linewidth{\hsize}}X|>{\setlength\hsize{.7\hsize}\setlength\linewidth{\hsize}}X|}
\hline
\multicolumn{3}{|c|}{Classification of the criticel point $(0,0)$ of $x'=Ax,|\mathbf{A}|\not=0$.}\\
\hline
Types & Type of Critical Point & Stability \\
\hline
1. Real unequal eigenvalues of same sign
\begin{itemize}
\item $\lambda_1 > \lambda_2 > 0$
\item $\lambda_1 < \lambda_2 < 0$
\end{itemize} &
\vphantom{1. Real unequal eigenvalues of same sign}
\begin{itemize}
\item Improper Node/Node
\item Improper Node/Node
\end{itemize} &
\vphantom{1. Real unequal eigenvalues of same sign}
\begin{itemize}
\item Unstable
\item Asym. Stable
\end{itemize}\\
\hline
2. Real unequal eigenvalues of opposite sign
\begin{itemize}
\item $\lambda_2 < 0 >\lambda_1$
\end{itemize} &
\vphantom{2. Real unequal eigenvalues of opposite sign}
\begin{itemize}
\end{itemize} &
\vphantom{2. Real unequal eigenvalues of opposite sign}
\begin{itemize}
\item Unstable
\end{itemize}\\
\hline
3. Equal eigenvalues \newline Subtype 1: Two Independent vectors
\begin{itemize}
\item $\lambda_1 = \lambda_2 > 0$
\item $\lambda_1 = \lambda_2 < 0$
\end{itemize} &
\vphantom{3. Equal eigenvalues} \vphantom{ Subtype 1: Two Independent vectors}
\begin{itemize}
\item Proper Node
\item Proper Node
\end{itemize} &
\vphantom{3. Equal eigenvalues} \vphantom{ Subtype 1: Two Independent vectors}
\begin{itemize}
\item Unstable
\item Asym. Stable
\end{itemize}\\
\hline
\end{tabularx}
\end{table}

\end{document}


If you don't like the item symbols in the 2nd and 3rd columns, use \item[].

• two points: (1) the baselines of the items in the first column aren't even with (they're higher than) those in the other two columns; (2) the indentation caused by the itemize in the last two columns causes the text to be shifted unpleasantly far right. Dec 18 '13 at 16:35
• This code doesn't work as-is for me Feb 23 '17 at 19:34
• "criticel" should be "critical" (but don't worry; its not critical). Jul 31 '17 at 12:14
• @BenjaminMcKay, why do you have to be so cretical?? 😄 Aug 25 '20 at 21:50
• Trying to put an itemize in an X cell of tabularx results for me in 4 equal errors: Something's wrong--perhaps a missing \item. \end{tabularx}. Nov 24 '20 at 14:41

Using itemization with minipage might be an option if the newline (backslash) is overlapping to another cell. For example:

     \multicolumn{2}{c}{\textbf{Classification 1}} \\ [2pt]  \hline
\textit{Classification 1} &
\begin{minipage} [t] {0.4\textwidth}
\begin{itemize}
\item item 1
\subitem subitem 2
\subitem subitem 3
\end{itemize}
\end{minipage} \\ [2pt]  \hline

• Welcome to TeX.SX! You can have a look at our starter guide to familiarize yourself further with our format. Jul 31 '17 at 12:24