# Hypertext Help with LaTeX
\<space>

LaTeX normally leaves a little extra space after sentences. However, it uses a rather simple rule for determining whether a period ends a sentence: it assumes that periods end sentences unless they follow an upper case letter. To let LaTeX know that a period does not end a sentence after, for example, an abbreviation, use:

`\<space>`

For example,

      Jones, et al.\ (1993) ...

Such a space may also be needed after a text-producing command, such as one defined with `\newcommand`. As an example, consider

      \newcommand{\water}{H$_2$O}
      \water, \water\ everywhere, but not a drop ...

The first `\water` command is terminated by the comma; note that LaTeX does not leave a space between the first `\water` and the comma -- as desired -- and the trailing space is treated as an interword space. However, the second `\water` command is terminated by the space, but LaTeX would not leave an extra space after this, running "H2Owater" into one word, except for the trailing `\` .

An alternate way to indicate the end of a command so that a trailing space is interpreted as an interword space is to use braces:

      \water, \water{} everywhere, ...

See `\@.` for the opposite case
See also Line and Page Breaking, Spaces and Boxes
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