Fonts & Character Sets ⇒ Better looking Percent Symbol

[Cham]

I know that the percent symbol is \% in LaTeX, but I don't like its appearance with a number close to it. It's a bit too big. See for example this code :

Code: Select all

\documentclass[12pt]{article}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\usepackage[french]{babel}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\begin{document}
This $v \approx 58\% \, c$ looks ugly to me.
\end{document}

Is there any other "better looking" percent symbols?

[cgnieder]

“better looking” is awfully subjective... If your goal is a smaller percent sign you can always scale it although this might not be the best solution:

Code: Select all

\documentclass[12pt]{article}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\usepackage[french]{babel}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\usepackage{graphicx}
\newcommand*\pct{\scalebox{.9}{\%}}

\begin{document}
This $v \approx 58\% \, c$ looks ugly to me.

This $v \approx 58\pct \, c$ looks ugly to me.
\end{document}

Alternatively you could choose another font where the sign is more to your liking. Maybe this one?

Code: Select all

\documentclass[12pt]{article}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\usepackage[french]{babel}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\usepackage{mathpazo}

\begin{document}
This $v \approx 58\% \, c$ looks ugly to me.

\end{document}

Regards

[Cham]

Aaah ! The first solution is the right one !

Thanks a lot !

[Cham]

Now this is weird.

The above solution works very well, except when I'm using it inside a caption :

Code: Select all

\documentclass[12pt,twoside,nofootinbib]{book}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage{microtype}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{graphicx}

\newcommand*\pct{\scalebox{0.9}{\%}}

\begin{document}

Here, it works : $x = 2.0\pct$.

\begin{figure}
	Test
	\caption{Here, it gives a compilation error : $x = 1.0\pct$.}
\end{figure}

\end{document}

So what is happening here ?

[Johannes_B]

Some things like glass vases are sensible and can break when moving. You have to protect them from breaking using protection, for example using bubble wrap.
The same with LaTeX. Some commands in moving arguments are fragile, so you have to protect them.

Code: Select all

\documentclass[12pt,twoside,
%nofootinbib%unknown
]{book}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage{microtype}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{graphicx}

\newcommand*\pct{\protect\scalebox{0.9}{\%}}

\begin{document}

Here, it works : $x = 2.0\,\pct$.

\begin{figure}
	Test
	\caption{Here, it gives a compilation error : $x = 1.0\,\pct$.}
\end{figure}

\end{document}

[Cham]

Ow ! What is the \protect command doing ? (well, I mean except to use some "bubbles" to protect the macro ! )

[Johannes_B]

Compare Section12.9 in texdoc latex2e, the unofficial reference manual.

[cgnieder]

Code: Select all

\newcommand*\pct{\protect\scalebox{0.9}{\%}}

Maybe it's easier and even more robust to make \pct itself robust:

Code: Select all

\DeclareRobustCommand*\pct{\scalebox{.9}{\%}}

What is the \protect command doing ?

See also What is the difference between Fragile and Robust commands?

Regards