\textbf{bold text}. Use \textit{italic text} for a fixed italic style, \emph{emphasized text} for meaning-aware emphasis, and \underline{underlined text} only when an underline is specifically required.
Copy-paste syntax:
\textbf{bold}, \textit{italic}, \emph{emphasis}, \underline{underline}For the common “bold text in LaTeX” use case, the command you need is \textbf{}. It works in normal text and can contain other text-formatting commands.Basic Text Formatting
Bold Text
Use\textbf{} to make text bold:
Italic Text
Use\textit{} for italics:
Underlined Text
Use\underline{} for underlining:
Combining Formats
You can combine multiple formatting commands:Emphasis Command
The\emph{} command provides semantic emphasis:
Additional Text Styles
Small Caps
Typewriter (Monospace)
Sans Serif
Slanted Text
Font Size Commands
Combine with text formatting:Color Text (Optional Package)
Add color to your formatting:Advanced Formatting
Strikethrough
Better Underlines
Environment-Based Formatting
For longer passages:Declaration Commands
Alternative syntax using declarations:Common Use Cases
Document Structure
Academic Writing
Best Practices
Common Mistakes
Quick Reference Table
Troubleshooting
Text Not Formatting
Check for:- Missing braces:
\textbf{text}not\textbf text - Typos in commands
- Missing packages for special formatting
Nested Commands Not Working
Ensure proper nesting:Try Text Formatting in the Editor
Open a formatting example
Paste the commands into a project and compile them to compare bold, italic, underline, and semantic emphasis.
See the online LaTeX editor
Review the browser editor workflow and current product capabilities.
Next: Learn how to create Lists for organizing information effectively, or explore Advanced text formatting for more sophisticated typography options.