14.3.5 @dmn{dimension}: Format a Dimension

At times, you may want to write ‘12pt’ or ‘8.5in’ with little or no space between the number and the abbreviation for the dimension. You can use the @dmn command to do this. On seeing the command, TeX inserts just enough space for proper typesetting; the Info formatting commands insert no space at all, since the Info file does not require it.

To use the @dmn command, write the number and then follow it immediately, with no intervening space, by @dmn, and then by the dimension within braces. For example,

A4 paper is 8.27@dmn{in} wide.

produces

A4 paper is 8.27in wide.

Not everyone uses this style. Some people prefer ‘8.27 in.@:’ or ‘8.27 inches’ to ‘8.27@dmn{in}’ in the Texinfo file. In these cases, however, the formatters may insert a line break between the number and the dimension, so use @w (see section @w{text}: Prevent Line Breaks). Also, if you write a period after an abbreviation within a sentence, you should write ‘@:’ after the period to prevent TeX from inserting extra whitespace, as shown here. See section Not Ending a Sentence.