What is the best book for learning LaTeX as a beginner?

  • LaTeX
  • Thread starter nickadams
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Book Latex
In summary: There are other threads where LaTeX software is discussed, so you could try a Google search or one of the forum threads.
  • #1
nickadams
182
0
what is the best book for a complete beginner to learn latex? I have a little bit of coding experience in MATLAB from a 1 semester intro course but other than that I know nothing about programming.

I really want to learn latex though so I can take notes in math classes on my laptop :wink:
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #3
Taking notes on your laptop, and furthermore typesetting them in LaTeX in class is terribly inefficient and generally a bad idea. You'll spend more energy on the typesetting than absorbing the lecture content, and, depending on the lecture, you likely won't be able to keep up.

However, LaTeX is an extremely useful typesetting language when writing assignments, so I reccomend you learn it.
 
Last edited:
  • #4
I agree with espen. It's a bad idea. Just make notes with a pen and paper, and type them up afterwards if you think there's something there worth saving.

I don't think you need a book actually, but having one can't be a bad idea. The first thing you should do is to download some LaTeX software, create a document and start typing stuff into it. When there's something you don't know how to do, Google it.
 
  • Like
Likes Demystifier
  • #5
There are many people (mostly grad students) who live-Tex their class notes. This is not an unreasonable thing to do if:
a) you are a very good typist
b) you are very fluent in Latex

Try doing your assignments in Latex first. I am pretty good at bashing out Latex, but would never do it in lectures, myself.

However, you can check out these tips if you are keen:
http://stacky.net/wiki/index.php?title=Advice_on_real-time_TeXing
http://annoyingpi.wordpress.com/2010/07/30/a-live-texing-experiment/

There is also the first post in this thread:
http://mathoverflow.net/questions/12638/taking-lecture-notes-in-lectures/12673

As for books, why bother? The net is full of Tex advice.
 
Last edited:
  • #6
Sankaku said:
There are many people (mostly grad students) who live-Tex their class notes. This is not an unreasonable thing to do if:
a) you are a very good typist
b) you are very fluent in Latex

Try doing your assignments in Latex first. I am pretty good at bashing out Latex, but would never do it in lectures, myself.

However, you can check out these tips if you are keen:
http://stacky.net/wiki/index.php?title=Advice_on_real-time_TeXing
http://annoyingpi.wordpress.com/2010/07/30/a-live-texing-experiment/

There is also the first post in this thread:
http://mathoverflow.net/questions/12638/taking-lecture-notes-in-lectures/12673

As for books, why bother? The net is full of Tex advice.

thanks for your response, and you I think I will start out typing assignments or retyping my handwritten notes until I get up to a decent speed. From your posts it looks like you can have shortcuts (macros I think they called it?) for common symbols or whatever so I will have to look into that.
 
  • #7
nickadams said:
thanks for your response, and you I think I will start out typing assignments or retyping my handwritten notes until I get up to a decent speed. From your posts it looks like you can have shortcuts (macros I think they called it?) for common symbols or whatever so I will have to look into that.

Yes, you can define your own (shorter) commands for commonly used ones. That helps a lot, even for assignments. Having a good editor is important as well, since it should have built-in keyboard shortcuts for many things.

Try to build good typing habits. I never kept the discipline long enough and my speed plateaued because of poor form.
 
  • #8
Sankaku said:
Yes, you can define your own (shorter) commands for commonly used ones. That helps a lot, even for assignments. Having a good editor is important as well, since it should have built-in keyboard shortcuts for many things.

Try to build good typing habits. I never kept the discipline long enough and my speed plateaued because of poor form.


what editor do you recommend?
 
  • #9
I use LEd and Texmaker. Both work fine for me.
 
  • #10
I'm using LEd. I like it enough to not want to switch, but I've had some difficulties with it. I remember that when I first installed it, I had some issues getting everything to work, and when I tried to do it months later on another computer, I wasn't able to get the previewer to work. It also has a feature that can be really annoying. When I type stuff involving ^ and I do something wrong...I think it's when I hit the spacebar before releasing the ^ key, a large section of text is highlighted and then deleted when I press the next key. (Fortunately, there's an "undo" feature as well). Also annoying is that it doesn't save any configuration settings. If I want something changed, I have to change it every time.

There are other threads where LaTeX software is discussed, so you could try a search.
 
  • #11
nickadams said:
what editor do you recommend?

I use Kile (under Linux/KDE) with Okular as my viewer. I understand that Texmaker has a similar layout but is cross-platform. I have only poked at it for a few minutes, though.
 

1. What is the best book for learning LaTeX?

The best book for learning LaTeX depends on your level of experience and the specific topics you want to learn. However, some popular choices include "LaTeX: A Document Preparation System" by Leslie Lamport, "The LaTeX Companion" by Frank Mittelbach and Michel Goossens, and "A Guide to LaTeX" by Helmut Kopka and Patrick Daly.

2. Is it necessary to have a background in programming to learn LaTeX?

No, LaTeX is a markup language and does not require any prior programming knowledge. However, some understanding of programming concepts may be helpful in understanding certain concepts and commands.

3. Can I learn LaTeX without a book?

Yes, there are many online resources and tutorials available for learning LaTeX. However, having a comprehensive book can provide a more structured and in-depth learning experience.

4. How long does it take to learn LaTeX?

The time it takes to learn LaTeX depends on your level of dedication and the complexity of the topics you want to learn. For beginners, it may take a few weeks to get comfortable with the basics, while mastering advanced techniques may take several months.

5. Are there any free resources for learning LaTeX?

Yes, there are many free online resources, tutorials, and guides available for learning LaTeX. Some popular options include Overleaf's "Learn LaTeX in 30 Minutes" tutorial, the LaTeX Wikibook, and the LaTeX Tutorials on YouTube.

Similar threads

  • MATLAB, Maple, Mathematica, LaTeX
Replies
11
Views
1K
  • MATLAB, Maple, Mathematica, LaTeX
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • Science and Math Textbooks
Replies
7
Views
525
  • MATLAB, Maple, Mathematica, LaTeX
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • MATLAB, Maple, Mathematica, LaTeX
Replies
13
Views
4K
  • MATLAB, Maple, Mathematica, LaTeX
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • MATLAB, Maple, Mathematica, LaTeX
Replies
18
Views
2K
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
13
Views
1K
  • MATLAB, Maple, Mathematica, LaTeX
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • MATLAB, Maple, Mathematica, LaTeX
Replies
3
Views
222
Back
Top