# Turn * into thin space for clearer math spacing

In a formula, the space between variables often corresponds implicitly to a multiplication operator. I find LaTeX's default spacing not so readable: symbols are too close to each other, and I would like to see a bit more space between them, automatically (i.e. without manually inserting it). Admittedly, it is a matter of taste, but also imho of legibility. As MWE:

$a x + b$ vs $a \hspace{0.07em} x + b$ and $y dx$ vs $y \hspace{0.07em} dx$


Globally changing the math spacing might (i) be a bit complicated and (ii) mess up the fine tuned LaTeX compilation. But TeXmacs offers to do it by deciding that the symbol * should be typeset as a (thin) space. That way, one preserves the meaning in the source (a multiplication), which is still readable ( x * y vs x \, y), while obtaining a visually pleasing output.
I am not familiar with catcode, but could it be used to replace all * with a predetermined space? (I can do without the * symbol anyway.) I am aware of the previous post on this topic, but the answers have failed to convince me, and I would like to go ahead.

• There is no need to space ax+b; actually I consider such spacing wrong. – egreg Jun 23 '15 at 20:34
• @egreg I have seen your point, and I respect it. There are strong arguments in its favor. Nevertheless, I beg to differ, and wish to experiment something else. – Pascal Romon Jun 24 '15 at 11:27

\begingroup\lccode\~=\*\lowercase{\endgroup\def~}{\,}
\AtBeginDocument{\mathcode\*="8000 }


But, regarding the differential, I would use a macro

\newcommand*\dif{\mathop{}\!d}


So you would write

$a x + b$ vs $a * x + b$ and $y dx$ vs $y \dif x$

• Beat me here by a hair. +1 :) – Sean Allred Jun 23 '15 at 20:14
• @SeanAllred and me by half that:-) – David Carlisle Jun 23 '15 at 20:14
• Regarding your macro, when possible, I like to use \newcommand\d[1]{\,d#1}, myself. Keeps the code very readable (\int f(x) \d x). My macro is very naive, though :) – Sean Allred Jun 23 '15 at 20:16
• @Manuel Superscripts... good point :) – Sean Allred Jun 23 '15 at 20:19

You might be interested in my answer to Automatic spacing of symbols . Here is it again:

\mathcode\*="8000
{\catcode\*=\active
\gdef*{\mathclose{}\,\mathopen{}}}


Compare

$a*b$
$a b$
$a\,b$
$a*\cos b$
$a \cos b$
$a\,\cos b$


The \mathopen{} avoids inserting two thin spaces if * is in front of a \mathop.

• All right I'm convinced. I had not thought that a \mathop would tamper with the above solution, but it does, and your solution smartly prevents this. I'll stick with my preferred length though: \hspace{0.07em}`. – Pascal Romon Jun 24 '15 at 19:00