# Beginner: Problem with formatting

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
1.The sequence \{a_n\} verconges to a if for all \epsilon > 0
\end{document}^


Output:

1.The sequence {a n }vercongestoaifforall? > 0

I don't know what to do to remove the clumping after an.

• Welcome to TeX.SX! The problem is that a_n is something that should occur in math mode, as are \epsilon and >. In (La)TeX, _ indicates a subscript but it can only be used in math mode (triggered with wither $...$ or $...$). Similarly, \epsilon and > can only be used in math mode. So when the document is compiled, your errors are being fixed, and the compiler is doing its best to guess where you wanted math mode to start and where you wanted it to end, so it does \{a$_n\} verconges to a if for all \epsilon >$0. – Adam Liter Mar 1 '15 at 4:10
• Instead, you should do something like \{$a_n$\} verconges to a if for all $\epsilon >$0. – Adam Liter Mar 1 '15 at 4:11
• Thank you for the explanation. And thank you for the welcome! – David Mar 1 '15 at 4:25

You are mixing math and text modes. You need to bracket the mathematics correctly.

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}

In-line math

1.The sequence $$\{a_n\}$$ converges to $$a$$ if for all $$\epsilon > 0$$

Display math

1.The sequence $\{a_n\}$ converges to $a$ if for all $\epsilon > 0$

\end{document}


You use $$ and $$ to bracket in-line mathematics and $ and $ for display mathematics

• @barbarabeeton Fixed, thanks, I proofed that too late last night. – R. Schumacher Mar 1 '15 at 17:24