When writing a question/comment/answer to math.stackexchange, one really often is confronted with the use of the \mathbb{} command. Is there any simplification possible, for example writing
$$\text{\Z} \Rightarrow \mathbb{Z}$$ or does one always have to write those longish command?
Thank you, Tom
I think we need to avoid non-standard commands in general. Many people prefer to use different naming conventions for their $\LaTeX$ custom commands. For example I use double letter for blackboard bold fonts; f prefix for Fraktur, c for calligraphic, s for script. So I would write \sF\subseteq\cP(\RR)\cap\fA for $\mathscr F\subseteq\mathcal P(\mathbb R)\cap\mathfrak A$.
Forcing me to deviate from that and use \Z, and equally appalling is forcing others to use my custom shortcuts is just wrong in my opinion.
As pointed out you can use the shorthand \Bbb{...} for example $\Bbb{|R^N|=|R\setminus Q|=|N^N|}$ is just \Bbb{|R^N|=|R\setminus Q|=|N^N|}.
For very long posts where you would use certain symbols often enough you can add \newcommand at the top lines and use these in your post. Note that using that may cause ripple effects at any text using those commands below your redefined (or newly defined) commands.
\Z as a custom shortcut, you wouldn't have to use it. You could still use \Bbb Z or \mathbb Z. It is just that you can also use \Z. This is not forcing anybody, this is a form of extended freedom.
$\endgroup$
\Z was a custom macro, and you don't want to use it, nobody is forcing you to use it. At MO 1.0 there were a few custom macros and nobody was complaining about them.
$\endgroup$
\frac{a}{b+x} instead of (a)/(b+x), which I would prefer. But wait forcing is bad... So let just not use any of those macros. Okay, nobody would be able to type math anymore, but at least nobody is forced ! ... I find this reasoning silly. I would prefer typing this math language at MSE. But I don't feel forced in any way. I feel grateful that there is at least a way to type math at MSE.
$\endgroup$
\Z or \ZZ or both.
$\endgroup$
\Z or \ZZ would be a good addition to MSE, and that your reasoning about why this would be a bad addition to MSE doesn't make sense to me. Just wanted to clear this up, I'll leave you alone ...
$\endgroup$
$\Bbb Z$yields $\Bbb Z$. $\endgroup$$\newcommand{\Z}{\mathbb Z}$then you can use$\Z$in the rest of your post. Like here: $\newcommand{\Z}{\mathbb Z}\Z$. This should be used carefully. You can have a look at other posts related to newcommand and def. $\endgroup$\newcommandin my question. Then, if someone gets the Latex code of one of my formulas, can he just paste it into his answer? $\endgroup$