11.3.5 @dmn{dimension}: Format a Dimension

You can use the @dmn command to format a dimension with a little extra space in the printed output. That is, on seeing @dmn, TeX inserts just enough space for proper typesetting; in other output formats, the formatting commands insert no space at all.

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’. In these cases, however, you need to use @tie (see @tie{}: Inserting an Unbreakable Space) or @w (see @w{text}: Prevent Line Breaks) so that no line break can occur between the number and the dimension. Also, if you write a period after an abbreviation within a sentence (as with the ‘in.’ above), you should write ‘@:’ after the period to prevent TeX from inserting extra whitespace, as shown here. See Not Ending a Sentence.