LaTeX - useful commands

# $ % ^ & _ { } ~
special characters

\\
new line

\newline
new line

%
comment

\include{filename}
when there are multiple .tex source files, every file is on a new page

\includeonly{file1, file2}
only these files are included

\input{filename}
simple inclusion of the text contained in filename

\syntaxonly
only checks latex syntax in the document

\usepackage{syntonly}
needed for \syntaxonly

\linebreak[n], \nolinebreak[n], \pagebreak[n], \nopagebreak[n]
suggest places where a break may (or may not happen)

\mbox{text}
causes its argument to be kept together under all circumstances

\ldots
...

\section{...}
\subsection{...}
\subsubsection{...}
\paragraph{...}
\subparagraph{...}
are available for articles, books and reports

\chapter{...}
is available only for books and reports

\section*{...}
All sectioning commands exist as "starred" versions. This generates section headings that do not show up in the table of contents and are not numbered.

\label{marker}, \ref{marker} and \pageref{marker}
are used for cross referencing.

\footnote{footnote text}
To insert footnotes. Still, try not to distract the reader and write everything into the body of the text.

\emph{text}
\textit
\texttt
\verb+text+ (\begin{verbatim})
Common commands

\begin{itemize,enumerate,description}, \item[bullet type,definition], \end{...}
Environments.

\begin{quote}, \end{quote}
Quotes

\begin{figure}[placement specifier] or \begin{table}[. . . ]
Floating bodies - their position in text is chosen automatically by LaTex. The placement specifier recommends possible positions on the page:
h - here, t - top, b - bottom, p - on a special page with floats, ! - without considering most of the internal parameters, which could stop this float from being placed.
\caption[Short]{Long} - The caption for the body. The \label command must be after this one.

\marginpar{margin note text}
Write short notes in the margin, like todo reminders.