Initial Query

In latex when I force a newline in a caption with \\ it gives an error saying \Hy@tempa has an extra } runaway argument?

LLM Generation

Query

In latex when I force a newline in a caption with \\ it gives an error saying \Hy@tempa has an extra } runaway argument?

Output

The error you're encountering is likely due to trying to use `\\` directly within the `\caption` command, which LaTeX doesn't handle well because the caption text also gets used in the List of Figures or List of Tables, where line breaks aren't allowed. To force a newline in a caption without causing an error, you can use the `\protect` command in combination with `\\`. The `\protect` command prevents LaTeX from expanding `\\` prematurely. Here's how you can do it:

1
\caption{This is the first line of the caption\protect\\ This is the second line of the caption}
However, forcing line breaks in captions should generally be avoided if possible because it can cause formatting issues, especially in the List of Figures or List of Tables. If you need to separate parts of the caption, consider using punctuation or conjunctions to keep the text flowing naturally. If you really need to format the caption in a specific way, another approach is to use the `caption` package, which provides more flexibility for formatting captions, including line breaks. Here's an example:
1
2
3
4
5
\usepackage{caption}

...

\caption[Short version for LoF/LoT]{This is the first line of the caption\\This is the second line of the caption}
In this case, the short version of the caption (without line breaks) is provided for the List of Figures or List of Tables, ensuring that the document remains properly formatted. Remember, the best approach depends on the specific requirements of your document and the formatting guidelines you're following. Generally, keeping captions simple and avoiding forced line breaks is advisable unless absolutely necessary.

Substring Evaluation

Testing if the previous output contains the string \protect: True

Initial Query

In latex when I force a newline in a caption with \\ it gives an error saying \Hy@tempa has an extra } runaway argument?

LLM Generation

Query

In latex when I force a newline in a caption with \\ it gives an error saying \Hy@tempa has an extra } runaway argument?

Output

When you use `\\` to force a newline in a caption within LaTeX, it can indeed lead to errors, especially within the list of figures or tables where the caption text is also used. LaTeX doesn't always handle line breaks in these floating caption texts well because it tries to process them for the list of figures or tables, where line breaks can cause formatting issues. ### Solutions #### Use the `caption` Package One of the most robust solutions is to use the `caption` package, which provides a lot of flexibility for customizing captions, including safely inserting line breaks. 1. **Load the `caption` package** in your preamble:

1
\usepackage{caption}
2. **Use `\captionsetup`** to allow for line breaks in a specific caption:
1
\captionsetup{singlelinecheck=off} % Allows line breaks in single-line captions
3. **Insert the caption** with a line break:
1
\caption[Short version for LoF/LoT]{First line of caption\\second line of caption}
The `[Short version for LoF/LoT]` is optional but recommended; it's a shorter or different version of the caption that appears in the List of Figures (LoF) or List of Tables (LoT), avoiding the issue with line breaks there. #### Manual Line Break with `parbox` or `minipage` Another method, without additional packages, involves using a `parbox` or `minipage` environment within the caption to manually create a new line. This approach is more of a workaround and might not be as clean as using the `caption` package.
1
\caption[Short version for LoF/LoT]{\parbox{\textwidth}{First line of caption\\second line of caption}}
Or:
1
\caption[Short version for LoF/LoT]{\begin{minipage}{\textwidth}First line of caption\\second line of caption\end{minipage}}
Again, providing a shorter caption for the List of Figures or Tables avoids problems with formatting in those lists. ### Summary Prefer using the `caption` package for its simplicity and the clean, robust handling of captions with line breaks. The `parbox` or `minipage` method can be used if you prefer not to use additional packages, but it's a bit more cumbersome. Always provide a short caption for the List of Figures/Tables to avoid issues with line breaks in those contexts.

Substring Evaluation

Testing if the previous output contains the string \protect: False

Initial Query

In latex when I force a newline in a caption with \\ it gives an error saying \Hy@tempa has an extra } runaway argument?

LLM Generation

Query

In latex when I force a newline in a caption with \\ it gives an error saying \Hy@tempa has an extra } runaway argument?

Output

When you encounter an error related to forcing a newline in a LaTeX caption using `\\`, it's often because the `caption` package (or similar mechanisms in LaTeX) doesn't directly support line breaks in this way within the `\caption` command's argument. This limitation is due to how captions are processed and can be used in the List of Figures or Tables, where such line breaks could cause issues. There are a few strategies to circumvent this problem: ### 1. Use the `caption` Package with `\captionsetup` The `caption` package provides enhanced customization options for captions, including proper handling of line breaks. Here's how you can use it: First, ensure you include the package in your document preamble:

1
\usepackage{caption}
Then, you can use the `\captionsetup` command to allow manual line breaks within a specific caption:
1
2
3
4
5
6
\begin{figure}
\centering
% Your figure here
\captionsetup{singlelinecheck=off,format=hang}
\caption{This is the first line.\\This is the second line.}
\end{figure}
The `singlelinecheck=off` option allows the caption to align properly even with the line break, and `format=hang` helps with the formatting. ### 2. Use a `parbox` or `minipage` For a quick fix without needing additional packages, you can enclose your caption text within a `parbox` or `minipage` environment, which supports line breaks:
1
2
3
4
5
\begin{figure}
\centering
% Your figure here
\caption{\parbox{0.8\textwidth}{This is the first line.\\This is the second line.}}
\end{figure}
Adjust the width (`0.8\textwidth` in the example) as needed for your document. ### 3. Manual Caption Formatting If you need more control or encounter issues with the above methods, you can manually format the caption using lower-level commands. This approach is more cumbersome and rarely needed for standard document types. ### Important Notes - Always ensure that any manual line breaks in captions do not interfere with the list of figures or tables. Test how your document looks both in the main content and in these lists. - If you're using a specific document class (e.g., IEEEtran, ACM, etc.), check their documentation or forums for any recommended practices or packages, as they might have specific requirements or incompatibilities with the general advice given here. Finally, remember to compile your document twice when making changes affecting the layout or referencing (like adding figures), as LaTeX often needs multiple passes to resolve all references correctly.

Substring Evaluation

Testing if the previous output contains the string \protect: False

Initial Query

In latex when I force a newline in a caption with \\ it gives an error saying \Hy@tempa has an extra } runaway argument?

LLM Generation

Query

In latex when I force a newline in a caption with \\ it gives an error saying \Hy@tempa has an extra } runaway argument?

Output

The error you're encountering is likely due to the way LaTeX handles line breaks in floating environments, such as figures or tables, especially within captions. The `\\` command can cause problems because the caption text also gets used in the list of figures or tables, where line breaks can disrupt the formatting. To include a line break in a caption without causing an error, you can use the `\protect` command in conjunction with `\\`. The `\protect` command prevents `\\` from being expanded prematurely. Here is how you can do it:

1
\caption{This is the first line of the caption\protect\\ This is the second line of the caption}
However, if you find that `\protect\\` still causes issues or if you want an alternative approach, you can use the `caption` package, which provides a more flexible system for customizing caption appearances, including handling line breaks more gracefully. Here's an example:
1
2
3
4
5
\usepackage{caption} % Add this in your preamble

...

\caption[Short caption for the LOF]{This is the first line of the caption.\\This is the second line of the caption.}
Using the `caption` package, you can provide a short version of the caption for the List of Figures (LOF) that doesn't include the line break, and a longer, more detailed version in the figure itself that does. This approach maintains the integrity of the LOF while giving you the formatting you desire in the actual caption. Remember, excessive manual formatting in captions (like forced new lines) might not always be the best practice, especially if your document will be submitted for publication or assessment, as strict formatting guidelines often apply.

Substring Evaluation

Testing if the previous output contains the string \protect: True

Initial Query

In latex when I force a newline in a caption with \\ it gives an error saying \Hy@tempa has an extra } runaway argument?

LLM Generation

Query

In latex when I force a newline in a caption with \\ it gives an error saying \Hy@tempa has an extra } runaway argument?

Output

In LaTeX, using `\\` to force a newline in a caption can indeed lead to errors. The issue is that the caption text is not just used under the figure or table but also in the List of Figures or List of Tables, where such line breaks can cause problems. The error you're encountering, mentioning `\Hy@tempa`, often arises from compatibility issues between the caption command and other packages or commands that process or modify the caption text. To safely insert a line break in a caption while avoiding such errors, you can use the `\protect` command in conjunction with `\\` or employ the `\caption` command with a short title for the List of Figures/Tables and a longer, formatted version for the caption itself. Here's how to do it: ### Using `\protect` with `\\`

1
\caption{This is the first line of the caption\protect\\ This is the second line of the caption}
This approach protects the `\\` command from being prematurely expanded or interpreted in a context where line breaks are not allowed, like in the List of Figures or Tables. ### Providing a Short and Long Caption
1
\caption[Short version for LoF/LoT]{Long version for the actual caption\\with a newline}
In this method, you provide two versions of the caption text: a short version that appears in the List of Figures (LoF) or List of Tables (LoT) which doesn't have the newline, and a longer version that appears with the figure or table and can contain formatted text, including line breaks. ### Additional Tips - If you're only interested in formatting the appearance of the caption beneath the figure or table and don't need the line break to appear in the List of Figures/Tables, the second approach is particularly useful. - Ensure that the packages you're using are compatible with each other and that you're following the recommended practices for the document class you've chosen. - If you continue to encounter errors, consider isolating the problem by commenting out other packages or commands to see if there's a specific interaction causing the issue. Sometimes, problems arise from unexpected interactions between packages. Always test your LaTeX documents thoroughly, especially when incorporating advanced formatting or using packages that modify default behaviors, to ensure compatibility and desired outcomes.

Substring Evaluation

Testing if the previous output contains the string \protect: True