# How can I format \delta as **Bold sloping sans serif font**

How can I format \delta as Bold sloping sans serif font. The journal guideline requires that Bold sloping sans serif font, defined by the \mathsfbi macro, should be used for tensors and matrices, for example \mathsfbi{E}. Obviously, it is suited to the normal letter. But when I use \mathsfbi{\delta}, it turns out that there seems no any change. My question is how can I apply it for Greek letter?

• Which journal? I've never heard of \mathsfbi, myself – do you have a MWE? – Sean Allred Jul 13 '15 at 12:30
• No font change does often mean that the relevant font does not provide the requested shape/series. – user31729 Jul 13 '15 at 12:33
• Sloping or slanted? I'm familiar with slanted sans-serif fonts, but not with the sloping variety... – Mico Jul 13 '15 at 12:48
• @Mico, it is sloping. – Enter Jul 13 '15 at 13:09
• @ChristianHupfer, I guessed so... But I am wondering if there is any workaround for it... – Enter Jul 13 '15 at 13:11

You can use the font provided by newtxsf (or another one providing sans serif math):

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{lmodern,pdftexcmds,amsmath}

\DeclareMathAlphabet{\mathsfbi}{OT1}{\sfdefault}{bx}{sl}
\DeclareMathVersion{sfletters}
\SetSymbolFont{letters}{sfletters}{OML}{ntxsfmi}{b}{it}

\makeatletter
\newcommand{\mathbfsbilow}[1]{%
\text{\mathversion{sfletters}$\m@th#1$}%
}

\DeclareRobustCommand{\tensor}[1]{%
\begingroup
\ifcat\noexpand #1\relax
% assume Greek letter
\edef\greek@test{\detokenize{#1}}%
\edef\greek@test{\expandafter\@cdr\greek@test\@nil}%
\edef\greek@test{\expandafter\@car\greek@test\@nil}%
\edef\x{\the\lccode\expandafter\greek@test}%
\edef\y{\number\expandafter\greek@test}%
\ifnum\x=\y\relax
% the command name starts with a lowercase letter
\mathbfsbilow{#1}%
\else
\mathsfbi{#1}%
\fi
\else
\mathsfbi{#1}%
\fi
\endgroup
}
\makeatother

\begin{document}

$\tensor{T}+\tensor{\Gamma}+\tensor{\delta}$

$\tensor{\alpha}\tensor{\beta}\tensor{\gamma}$

\end{document}