Hypertext Help with LaTeX
Spacing in Math Mode

In a math environment, LaTeX ignores the spaces you type and puts in the spacing that it thinks is best. LaTeX formats mathematics the way it's done in mathematics texts. If you want different spacing, LaTeX provides the following four commands for use in math mode:

• \; - a thick space
• \: - a medium space
• \, - a thin space
• \! - a negative thin space