[Chapter 12] 12.7 Escape Sequences

12.7 Escape Sequences

Sequence	Effect
\\	Prevent or delay the interpretation of \.
\e	Printable version of the current \ escape character.
\'	`´` (acute accent); equivalent to \(aa .
\`	` (grave accent); equivalent to \(ga .
\-	- Minus sign in the current font.
\.	Period (dot).
\(space)	Unpaddable space-size space character.
\(newline)	Concealed (ignored) newline.
\0	Digit width space.
\\|	1/6-em narrow space character (zero width in nroff).
\^	1/12-em half-narrow space character (zero width in nroff).
\&	Non-printing, zero width character.
\!	Transparent line indicator.
\"	Beginning of comment.
\$`n`	Interpolate argument 1`n` 9.
\%	Default optional hyphenation character.
\(`xx`	Character named `xx` .
\`x` or `\` `(` `xx`	Interpolate string `x` or `xx` .
\a	Noninterpreted leader character.
\b'`abc` ...`'`	Bracket building function.
\c	Make next line continuous with current.
\d	Forward (down) 1/2-em vertical motion (1/2 line in nroff).
\D'l `x` ,`y` '	Draw a line from current position to coordinates `x,y` (ditroff only).
\D'c `d` '	Draw circle of diameter `d` with left edge at current position (ditroff only).
\D'e `d1 d2` '	Draw ellipse with horizontal diameter `d1` and vertical diameter `d2` , with left edge at current position (ditroff only).
\D'a `x1 y1 x2 y2` '	Draw arc counterclockwise from current position, with center at `x1,y1` and endpoint at `x1+x2,y1+y2` (ditroff only).
\D'~ `x1 y1 x2 y2` ...`'`	Draw spline from current position through the specified coordinates (ditroff only).
\f`x` or `\f(` `xx` or `\f` `n`	Change to font named `x` or `xx` or to position `n` .
\h'`n` '	Local horizontal motion; move right `n` or if `n` is negative move left.
\H'`n'`	Set character height to `n` points, without changing width (ditroff only).
\k`x`	Mark horizontal `input` place in register `x` .
\l'`nc` '	Draw horizontal line of length `n` (optionally with `c` ).
\L'`nc` '	Draw vertical line of length `n` (optionally with `c` ).
\n`x` \,\n(`xx`	Interpolate number register `x` or `xx` .
\o'`abc` ...'	Overstrike characters `a` , `b` , `c` ...
\p	Break and spread output line.
\r	Reverse 1-em vertical motion (reverse line in nroff).
\s`n` \,\s±`n`	Change point-size to `n` or increment by `n` . For example, \s0 returns to previous point size.
\S'`n'`	Slant output `n` degrees to the right. Negative values slant to the left. A value of zero turns off slanting (ditroff only).
\t	Non-interpreted horizontal tab.
\u	Reverse (up) 1/2-em vertical motion (1/2 line in nroff).
\v'`n` '	Local vertical motion; move down `n` or if `n` is negative move up.
\w'`string` '	Interpolate width of `string` .
\x'`n` '	Extra line-space function (`n` negative provides space before, `n` positive provides after).
\z`c`	Print `c` with zero width (without spacing).
\{	Begin multi-line conditional input.
\}	End multi-line conditional input.
\`x`	`x` , any character `not` listed above.