# Shorter line for math-mode?

I have

$A-V$


but the line "-" is shown too long:

I would like to have shorter line.

How can you have a shorter line there in the math-mode?

• Is it not a minus sign? Load amsmath and use $A\text{ - }V$ – user11232 Nov 3 '15 at 23:07
• $A{-}V$ will reduce the spacing, while $A\mbox{-}V$ will change the font and therefore not set - as a minus. – Werner Nov 3 '15 at 23:10
• Do you want \textit{A-V}? – Sigur Nov 3 '15 at 23:13
• $A$\nobreakdash-$V$ (requires amsmath). Or $A\text{-}V$, but it's wrong to begin with. – egreg Nov 3 '15 at 23:14
• Related: Hyphens in mathmode – Ari Brodsky Nov 11 '15 at 2:50

A hyphen in math mode is interpreted as a minus sign. If you mean to have a variable named A-V in math mode, with a hyphen in between, you need to define a “math hyphen” or resort to $A\text{-}V$.

For defining a math hyphen you can do

\DeclareMathSymbol{\mh}{\mathord}{operators}{\-}


Full example:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\DeclareMathSymbol{\mh}{\mathord}{operators}{\-}

\begin{document}

$A\mh V$

$A\text{-}V$

\end{document}


The first option, with \mh (or the name you prefer), is better.

Of course, if this is not a variable, but you're referring to two variables in some text, the correct input would be

$A$\nobreakdash-$V$