How do I make "gather" object, place its self in the text, the same way as an equation object?

Question

Assuming the amsmath package is installed. I found a difference between the way that an equation object and a gather object is embedded within the text.

If an equation is beneath a line of text that does not extend as far to the right as the equation. Then the equation is placed higher up for asphetic reasons like so:

---

Hello there this is some text, blah, blah,  
blah, blah  
              a+b=c  

Some more text, hello  

---

Or if the text goes beyond the equation, like so:

---

Hello there this is some text, blah, blah,
blah, blah, blah, blah

              a+b=c

Some more text, hello  

---

If gather is used, then the gather object is placed a certain distance beneath the last line of text, regardless of it's extent across the page.

I would like gather to align equations in the same way as equation objects but this isn't as simple as using a permanent vspace{} command to push text up as it's need will be depend on the final layout of the text.

Can any one help? maybe this is even a bug to be resolved. by the ams group.

Thanks

I have prepared an example latex document here: http://pastebin.com/EUKyNi2A

Answer 1

How about doing

\begin{equation}
     \begin{gathered}
          1+1=2
     \end{gathered}
\end{equation}

It is more typing, but it will do what you want.

Answer 2

The nccmath package helps to correct amsmath's spacing. Load it and write \useshortskip if required. This command forces using the short skip in the next displayed formula. Such corrections should be done when preparing the final version.

\usepackage{nccmath}
...
% short text
\useshortskip
\begin{gather}
...
\end{gather}

For those, who would like to test, here's a minimal example fixing the code of the questioner:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{nccmath}
\begin{document}
\useshortskip
Some words from my memory... I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Attack ships on fire\ldots
\useshortskip
\begin{gather}
a+b=c
\end{gather}
I watched `C' beams glisten in the dark, near the Tanhauser gate.

\bigskip

Some words from my memory... I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Attack ships on fire of\ldots
\begin{equation}
a+b=c
\end{equation}
I watched `C' beams glisten in the dark, near the Tanhauser gate.
\end{document}

Remove \useshortskip and replace nccmath by amsmath to see the original problem: